Right to Die Legislation to be Discussed at Thursday Evening Meeting

Proposed legislation in Illinois would make the state the latest so-called "right to die" state in the nation.

Senate Bill 3499 would create end-of-life options for the Terminally Ill Patients Act in Illinois.

Under the bill, a qualified patient with a terminal disease would be allowed to request that a physician prescribe them "aid-in-dying medication that will allow the patient to end the patient's life in a peaceful manner". 

Qualifications to be considered eligible for the prescription include being at least 18 or older, an Illinois resident with a terminal diagnosis and six-month-or-less prognosis, and what a physician deems to be the mental capacity to make such a decision.

In response to interest in the legislation, an informational meeting will be held this Thursday at 7pm at the Effingham Event Center on West Fayette. Anyone interested is invited to attend.

The Thursday speakers will include Dr.Ruben Boyajian, hospice nurse Kay Wheeler, and Valerie Kemme who will discuss end of life care.

The evening is sponsored by the Legislative Committee of Effingham Area Right to Life.