Judge Weighing Arguments to Halt Illinois’ ‘Medical Aid in Dying’ Law
The lawsuit says the law discriminates against people with disabilities and violates federal disability and health law, advocates told the judge.
- U.S. District Judge John Tharp is weighing whether to block the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act before its September 12 effective date, following a lawsuit alleging the law discriminates against people with disabilities.
- Illinois lawmakers passed EOLA last year, allowing terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to request lethal medication—a process proponents call "medical aid in dying" and opponents label "assisted suicide."
- Thomas Geoghegan, representing disability rights groups, argued the law violates the Hippocratic oath to "first do no harm," while state attorney Elizabeth Morris countered that doctors remain "responsible to the state" under existing malpractice law.
- Tharp must decide on the preliminary injunction before Saturday; a separate challenge from religiously affiliated healthcare systems previously secured a temporary restraining order exempting those plaintiffs until appellate courts rule.
- If implemented, Illinois would become the first Midwestern state to authorize medical aid in dying under "Deb's Law," which requires patients to pass mental evaluations and confirm prognoses with two independent physicians.
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11 Articles
Capitol News Illinois | Judge weighing arguments to halt Illinois’ ‘medical aid in dying’ law ahead of Saturday start
Barring an 11th-hour legal twist, Illinois is set to become the first Midwestern state to allow terminally ill adults to take life-ending medication prescribed by physicians when the law goes into effect late this week.
Judge Weighing Arguments to Halt Illinois’ ‘Medical Aid in Dying’ Law Ahead of Sept. 12 Start
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Judge Weighing Arguments to Halt Illinois’ ‘Medical Aid in Dying’ Law Ahead of Sept. 12 Start</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Hannah Meisel …</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-09-08T14:43:00-05:00" title="Tuesday, September 8…
Judge weighing arguments to halt Illinois' 'medical aid in dying' law ahead of Sept. 12 start
Illinois is set to become the first Midwestern state to allow terminally ill adults to take life-ending medication prescribed by physicians when the law goes into effect late this week.
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