Illinois county voices opposition to new assisted suicide law

County officials in Illinois are pushing back against a new assisted suicide law that allows doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs to certain patients.

The Effingham County Board approved a resolution opposing the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act last month. The law allows adults diagnosed with less than six months to live to request lethal medication from a physician. Two doctors must confirm the diagnosis and the patient’s mental capacity. The law takes effect Sept. 12.

The vote drew disagreement from board members in the south-central Illinois county. Board member Sandi Rich, who previously supported advancing the resolution, voted against it after hearing from constituents.

“It is my duty to listen to the people in my district and represent them. Therefore, I cannot support this resolution as written,” Rich said, according to Effingham Daily News.

She still raised concerns about how the law will work in practice, especially for local officials handling deaths.

“Under this law, on the death certificate, coroners must declare the primary cause of death as the underlying terminal illness. Essentially, coroners must lie on the death certificate,” she said.

Rich added: “In these cases, the primary cause of death is in fact the prescribed drug meant to end the life. Yet, the law forbids listing suicide or medically aided dying as a cause.”

She also pointed to gaps in oversight involving unused lethal drugs and said the law could increase costs for counties if officials order more autopsies.

“Who regulates this or even tracks this?” she asked.

Board Chairman Joshua Douthit introduced the resolution and said he wants state lawmakers to revisit the policy.

“Hopefully, this will send a message for them to look at it again,” he said.

During the meeting, resident Pat Lewis argued the resolution misrepresents the law and uses inflammatory language.

“In reading the draft resolution and listening to some of the comments in previous meetings, one would come to the conclusion that this bill had not been read by some on the county board,” Lewis said. “I think sensationalist terms and misrepresented facts are being presented to the public in this draft resolution.”

Effingham County sits at the junction of Interstates 70 and 57 and has about 34,000 residents.

Lawmakers in Illinois, which is under Democrat control, passed the measure by narrow margins, drawing opposition from religious groups, disability advocates and some medical professionals.

Critics argue the policy risks normalizing assisted suicide and sending the wrong message about the value of life, especially for the elderly and those facing serious illness. Some also warn that such policies can shift medical culture away from care and toward ending life when suffering becomes difficult.