Ilinois Court Blocks State from Penalizing Catholic Hospitals that Refuse to Provide Assisted Suicide

Israel Duro:

A federal court has barred Illinois from penalizing Catholic and religious hospitals that operate as healthcare providers for refusing to participate in the state's assisted suicide law. The ruling also allows them to refuse to inform patients how to obtain medication to end their lives.

District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama issued a temporary restraining order last week preventing the Department of Financial Professionals Regulation and the Department of Public Health from enforcing the state law against the plaintiffs....

The End-of-Life Options Act (EOLO) stipulates that healthcare providers who refuse to inform patients about the alleged "benefits" of assisted suicide, refer those who request it to professionals willing to provide the service, provide information that the state considers "misinformation," or record deaths resulting from lethal prescriptions as caused by the underlying illness, face fines of up to $10,000, loss of license, and possible criminal charges.

Legislation Would Resolve Death Certificate Reports, Allow the Full Truth

By CHRIS BALKEMA [pictured left]

Illinois Senator 53rd District, R-Channahon

I introduced new legislation that will improve transparency and accuracy on how deaths are documented under Illinois’ medical aid in dying law that was signed into law earlier this year.

Senate Bill 3937 would amend the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act to require that death certificates include both a patient’s underlying terminal illness and the use of medical aid in dying.

Under current law, when the Act takes effect on Sept. 12, 2026, death certificates for patients who self-administer life-ending medication will list only the individual’s terminal condition.

Coroners have reported that they would be put in a situation where they are not allowed to tell the full truth of why a person passes away.

My bill resolves this issue.

Illinois Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill Opposed

Effingham County Board has taken an official stance against the recently advanced Illinois Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill, known as the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act. The resolution, opposing the legislation, passed Monday after considerable discussion.

Board member Sandi Rich cited concerns regarding the responsibilities that would fall on county coroners and first responders when handling deaths under the new law. She also questioned the protocol for unused medication if a patient chooses not to proceed.  

County Coroner Kim Rhodes echoed those concerns, stating uncertainty over which medications would be used and how such deaths would be reported. County Democrat Chairman Pat Lewis expressed the need for ongoing review and potential revisions to the measure, but stopped short of supporting a complete repeal.

Illinois City Hands Out $25K Cash Payments to Black Residents Under Racist Reparations Program

By Joshua Q. Nelson, Fox News, February 11, 2026:

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson shared a post on X Wednesday defending the City of Chicago’s Reparations Task Force and slamming Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Credit: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s X account.

Evanston, Illinois. will issue $25,000 to 44 residents in reparations payments, the City’s Reparations Committee has announced.

Established in 2019 and approved by the City Council in 2021, the program issues $25,000 direct cash payments to Black residents and descendants of Black residents who lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969.

Evanston was the first city in the nation to pass a reparations plan, pledging $10 million over a decade to Black residents.

The payments are intended to cover housing expenses, Evanston official Cynthia Vargas told the Chicago Tribune.

Death Prevention Task Force

Meet Coroner Jamie Harwood, MSN, RN

Jamie Harwood proudly serves as the Peoria County Coroner, combining over two decades of nursing experience, forensic expertise, and community-centered leadership in one of the most trusted and compassionate roles in county government.

A lifelong resident of central Illinois, Jamie began his career in healthcare after graduating from the Methodist School of Nursing in 1997. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Penn State University in 2015, graduating with honors. Most recently, Jamie earned his Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Administrative Leadership from Penn State in 2024, again graduating with honors.

Disability Advocates, Including Amber Smock, Raise Concerns Over Bill Allowing Terminally Ill Adults to End Their Lives

Amber Smock

Bridgette Adu-Wadier | November 10, 2025

Terminally ill people in Illinois may soon be able to end their lives with medical assistance.

State lawmakers recently passed a controversial medical-aid-in-dying bill [assisted suicide and/or euthanasia], which now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk.

Supporters of the measure say it gives those who are already dying a compassionate way to go.

Khadine Bennet, the director of advocacy and intergovernmental affairs at the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, said many terminally ill people have exhausted many other options and want the option to go peacefully.

“A lot of the things we’ve heard from folks is that fear of, at the end of their life, still being in so much pain,” Bennet said. “They want to know that there is an option that’s available to them that is safe.”

But opponents say the measure would worsen longstanding health care disparities — particularly for individuals with disabilities and people who live below the poverty line.

Illinois Aid in Dying

State Senator Jill Tracy sees gaping loopholes and clear safety risks with the proposed legislation.

“There are safety concerns of allowing somebody to take a pill home that has a very lethal dose of morphine and other drugs that will kill you, put in the refrigerator, and the state never checks on it. ...

The ACLU of Illinois said the bill is about self-determination and compassion for people who have a disease or condition that cannot be cured and are expected to die as a result.

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide on Its Way to the Governor

Dear Advocates, 

In a surprise move in the early hours of Friday morning, the Illinois State Senate quietly took up and passed a bill to legalize assisted suicide, by a one vote margin. SB 1950 came up on the floor after 2 am during a veto session, with Senators voting 30-27 (with two not voting). The House passed SB 1950 in the spring, so the bill now goes to Governor JB Pritzker (pictured here). 

You  may recall that the House vote came after proponents gutted an unrelated food safety bill, which had previously passed the Senate, and replaced the language with the assisted suicide legislation. 

Diligent dedicated work was put in for years to defeat the bill by a very strong and large coalition of Illinois organizations and individuals. Focus now turns to convince the Governor that he must veto this dangerous bill which will put vulnerable Illinoisians at risk.  Our work doesn't end here, and all our voices will be needed to prevent further movement. When these bills do pass, they are by the slimmest of margins; if you haven't been involved before, now is the time.