Terminally ill adults are one step closer to having access to more end-of-life options in Illinois after a measure supported by State Senator Cristina Castro passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday.

“At the end of our lives, all of us want options,” said Castro (D-Elgin), a co-sponsor of the legislation. “Medical aid in dying has been implemented in other states like Oregon for over 30 years. Armed with this data and after hearing from family members and terminally ill residents with firsthand experience, I believe expanding this access in Illinois would align with our goals of making sure patients have every safe option available to them.”

Senate Bill 9 would give mentally capable, terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live the option to request their physician prescribe end-of-life medication. The legislation sets forth procedures, roles and limits to ensure strict protections for patients and providers and guard against coercion. Patients would need to be able to take the medication themselves if they choose, so no physician would need to administer any medication. No health care professional would be required to participate, and individuals would be able to withdraw their request or decide not to take the medication altogether.

In Oregon, the first state to enact medical aid in dying, there have been no substantiated cases of abuse or coercion since it took effect in 1997, according to the ACLU.

Senate Bill 9 awaits further action in the Senate.