Memorandum

To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

CC: Members of the Human Services Committee
From: Alexandra Ruggie, Assistant City Attorney
Subject: Resolution 14-R-20, Supporting the Illinois Legislature to Enact
Legislation that Allows Terminally Ill, Mentally Capable Adults the
Option to Seek Medical Aid in Dying
Date: February 10, 2020

Recommended Action:
The Human Services Committee submits for consideration Resolution 14-R-20, "Supporting
the Illinois Legislature to Enact Legislation that Allows Terminally Ill, Mentally Capable Adults
the Option to Seek Medical Aid in Dying."

Council Action:
For Action

Summary:
Terminally ill patients undergo pain, suffering and irreversible reduction in their quality of life
in their final days, and only the patient can determine whether his or her suffering is
unbearable. Therefore, “medical aid in dying” is a medical practice authorized in nine states
(Oregon, Washington, California, Vermont, Montana, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine and New
Jersey) and the District of Columbia in which a terminally ill, mentally capable adult with six
months or less to live can request a prescription for medication from his or her physician that
the patient may choose to self-ingest for a peaceful death.

This resolution urges the Illinois State legislature to enact legislation that would give
terminally ill patients who are mentally capable the option to seek medical aid in dying.

Attachments:
Resolution 14-R-20 Recognizing that IL Should Expand Options to Terminally Ill Adults
 01/16/2020

14-R-20
A RESOLUTION

Supporting the Illinois Legislature to Enact Legislation that Allows

Terminally Ill, Mentally Capable Adults the Option to Seek Medical Aid
in Dying

WHEREAS, Illinois law — under the Illinois Power of Attorney Act and the

Illinois Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment regulations — recognizes that

terminally ill adults have a fundamental right to determine their own medical treatment

options, free from coercion and in accordance with their own values, beliefs, and per-

sonal preferences; and

WHEREAS, terminally ill patients may undergo pain, suffering, and an

irreversible reduction in their quality of life in their final days, and only the patient can

determine whether his or her suffering is unbearable; and

WHEREAS, “medical aid in dying” is a medical practice authorized in nine

states (Oregon, Washington, California, Vermont, Montana, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine

and New Jersey) and the District of Columbia in which a terminally ill, mentally capable

adult with six months or less to live can request a prescription for medication from his or

her physician that the patient may choose to self-ingest for a peaceful death; and

WHEREAS, the practice of medical aid in dying by medical providers who

choose to participate respects and honors their patients’ values and priorities and puts

the patient at the center of her or his own healthcare; and

Page 2 of 4
 14-R-20

WHEREAS, recent polling shows that 73 percent of U. S. adults support

allowing a mentally capable adult who is dying of a terminal disease with no hope of

recovery, the option to ask for medication to bring about their own death; and

WHEREAS, medical aid in dying has been safely and successfully

implemented in Oregon, where over twenty years of reporting and study demonstrates

the compassion and safety of the practice in upholding a patient’s right to self-

determination; and

WHEREAS, well-respected national health and medical organizations,

including the American Public Health Association, the American Medical Women’s

Association, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and the

American Academy of Legal Medicine, recognize medical aid in dying as a legitimate

end-of-life option for eligible adults facing imminent death from a terminal illness; and

WHEREAS, the City of Evanston recognizes that the choices a person

makes at the end of life should be inalienably grounded in that individual person’s own

life experiences and values; and

WHEREAS, the availability of medical aid in dying provides an additional

palliative care option to terminally ill individuals and allows them to live their remaining

days to the fullest even if they ultimately choose not to utilize medical-aid-in-dying

medication,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF

THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS:

SECTION 1. That the City of Evanston respects the diversity of perspec-

tives on end-of-life decisions.

~2~

Page 3 of 4
 14-R-20

SECTION 2. That the City of Evanston recognizes that Illinois should ex-

pand the options available to terminally ill, mentally capable adults by passing Medical-

Aid-in-Dying legislation similar to that of the states listed above.

SECTION 3. That the City of Evanston urges the Illinois Legislature to en-

act legislation that will allow terminally ill, mentally capable adults the option to seek

medical aid in dying.

SECTION 4. That this resolution be delivered and presented to the Illinois

Legislature.

SECTION 5. That this Resolution 14-R-20 shall be in full force and effect

from and after its passage and approval in the manner provided by law.

_______________________________
Stephen H. Hagerty, Mayor

Attest: Approved as to form:

_______________________________ _______________________________
Devon Reid, City Clerk Deputy City Attorney

Adopted: __________________, 2020

~3~

Page 4 of 4