SPRINGFIELD — Terminally ill adults could soon have increased access to more compassionate end-of-life options under a bill that had State Senator Cristina Castro’s backing.

“How we live and die should always be our choice,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “This measure grants that choice to ensure quality of life for those who have known pain for some time now.”

Senate Bill 1950 would allow a qualified patient with a terminal disease to request a physician to prescribe aid-in-dying medication, allowing the patient to end their own life in a peaceful manner if they choose.

The bill includes multiple safeguards that would ensure a patient is eligible, informed about all of their end-of-life care options and protected from potential coercion or surrogate decision-making by anyone other than the patient.

Patients would be assessed by physicians and mental health professionals to ensure their capacity to make an informed decision. Only the patient would be able to request this aid – not a surrogate, proxy or via an advance health directive. Under Senate Bill 1950, no physician, health care provider or pharmacist would be required to participate in the law.

Senate Bill 1950 passed the Senate and heads to the governor’s desk for final approval.