The US State of Illinois has legalised assisted dying, after the Governor, JB Pritzker, signed it into law. It becomes the 13th jurisdiction in the US, and the 35th jurisdiction internationally to enact an assisted dying law. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are hailing this historic moment and are calling on the House of Lords to constructively work on the Terminally Ill Adults Bill, so dying Brits can face the same choices as the people of Illinois.
The legislation had already passed the Illinois Senate by 30 votes to 27, and the House by 63 votes to 42. It should come into effect after 180 days.
Since Kim Leadbeater MP announced she would introduce an assisted dying Bill in October 2024, the Isle of Man, the US state of Delaware, Uruguay, and now Illinois have passed assisted dying legislation.
The Australian Capital Territory’s legislation, passed in 2023, has come into effect, and a new Bill focusing on the accessibility of assisted dying has been passed in Victoria, Australia. Tuscany in Italy became the first Italian region to adopt a law implementing assisted dying, following Italy’s Constitutional Court ruling.
Assisted dying bills in Jersey and Scotland are expected to pass in early 2026. The Terminally Ill Adults Bill must pass all stages by spring 2026
What does Illinois’ new assisted dying law look like?
The law in Illinois is very similar to the proposed Terminally Ill Adults Bill.
Both Bills require applicants to:
- Be adults (aged 18 or over)
- Be terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less
- Have mental capacity and be acting voluntarily, without coercion
- Be independently assessed by at least two doctors, who must confirm diagnosis, prognosis, capacity and voluntariness
- Complete formal requests and documentation, with mandatory waiting periods
Both Bills introduce explicit criminal penalties for coercion or abuse under the law.
The key difference is that the UK’s proposed Bill requires a three-person Assisted Dying Review Panel (legal chair, psychiatrist, social worker) to assess the patient after the two independent doctors. This is overseen by a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner (senior judge). The waiting periods in the UK Bill are also much longer.
Dave Sowry, Board Member of My Death, My Decision, said:
‘Congratulations, Illinois, on passing this historic and compassionate law. The House of Lords should take note of the ever-growing international picture, where all over the world, nations are saying that dying people should not be forced to suffer at the end of their lives.
Almost everyone agrees the current situation is unsafe, unjust and muddled. The Lords must stop frustrating the process and they should not undermine the will of Parliament and the hopes and wishes of the public.’
