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.