This month, the Illinois State Senate took a historic step by passing the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (SB1950), also known as Deb’s Law. This important legislation, which provides terminally ill Illinoisans the right to make deeply personal decisions about their final days, had already passed the Illinois House earlier this year. With Senate approval secured, is now on Governor JB Pritzker’s desk for his signature, veto, or he can take no action.
The passage of SB1950 through both chambers is a major victory, but the fight isn’t over. If Governor Pritzker signs this bill, terminally ill Illinoisans will gain the right to medical aid in dying (MAID), giving them comfort, dignity, and control in their final days. Every experience of someone facing a terminal diagnosis reminds us why this law matters. No one should be forced to endure unnecessary suffering when they could have a peaceful, self-directed end.
When Your Loved Ones Don’t Have the Option of Death with Dignity
Kimberly Shoemaker grew up surrounded by love and family, always cherishing the time spent with her parents. But the deaths of both her mother and father left a profound mark on her, and ignited her fight to protect others from needless suffering at the end of life..
In 2014, Kimberly’s mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer at just 57. Despite her family’s best efforts to protect her, Kimberly witnessed her mother’s suffering—the relentless pain, the exhaustion, the harsh side effects of treatment. While her mother’s last days were spent surrounded by family, Kimberly knew she had been denied a crucial choice: the ability to decide how her life would end with dignity and autonomy.
Years later, in 2023, Kimberly faced a similar heartbreak as her father battled pancreatic cancer. The treatments were grueling, the pain unrelenting. He eventually entered hospice, but his final weeks were filled with suffering that could have been eased if medical aid in dying had been an option in Illinois.
Watching both of her parents’ prolonged decline left Kimberly heartbroken, but resolute. No one, she believes, should have to endure the deaths her parents did. Today, she channels that grief into purpose, advocating for Death with Dignity laws in Illinois and beyond, so that other people won’t face the same powerless anguish her family did.
Fighting for End-of-Life Freedom Until the Very End
Miguel Carrasquillo was a talented chef with big dreams. At 31, he was building his career at Petterino’s in Chicago and looked forward to a future full of opportunity and creativity. Life was just beginning to unfold for him.
But in 2012, everything changed. Nilsa Centeno and Suzy Flack, two mothers whose sons had very different deaths, write for the Chicago Tribune about Miguel’s aggressive brain tumor. Despite bravely enduring treatments, the cancer spread throughout his body. Unable to access assisted dying in Illinois, Miguel faced the harsh reality of a prolonged, painful decline. He returned to his family’s home in Puerto Rico, where his suffering continued until his death.
Even in the midst of unimaginable pain, Miguel used his voice to advocate for others. He recorded heartfelt videos in English and Spanish, urging Latinos and all terminally ill people nationwide to support medical aid in dying legislation. Through his courage and advocacy, Miguel left a lasting legacy: a call to ensure that no one in Illinois, or anywhere, has to face the end of life without the option to choose dignity and peace.
Help make Physician-Assisted Dying a Reality in Illinois
We’re one signature away from Death with Dignity in Illinois! The legislature is preparing to send the bill to Governor JB Pritzker. His signature is the final step in providing terminally ill Illinois residents access to the peaceful end-of-life option they deserve.
If you’re an Illinois resident, take two minutes to write to Governor JB Pritzker and ask that he support terminally ill individuals and sign SB1950 today. If you live outside the state, please forward this blog to someone in your Illinois community. Together, we can help ensure no one has to leave home to die with dignity.
A win for Illinois is a win for everyone.