Illinois legalizes physician-assisted suicide; critics warn of moral, safety risks

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1950, prompting strong backlash from medical, disability, religious and legal groups who say it was rushed and violates key ethical and legal protections.

State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, a practicing physician, said Pritzker showed signs of hesitation but ultimately “his leftist ideology took over and he signed it.”

“The process… it stinks,” Hauter said. “We passed this in the dead of night, 2 a.m., with no warning to disability groups, medical ethics groups or religious groups who were strongly opposed,” said Hauter.

Pritzker signed “Deb’s Law,” letting terminally ill Illinois adults seek medication to end their lives.

“I have been deeply impacted by the stories of Illinoisans or their loved ones that have suffered from a devastating terminal i...