Deb's Law

To qualify and utilize the provisions under Deb's Law, patients must strictly adhere to the following medical and legal parameters:

Prognosis: Two physicians must confirm the patient has an incurable and irreversible terminal illness resulting in death within six months.
Mental Capacity: Patients must have the mental capacity to make an informed medical decision, which is also confirmed by a physician.
Self-Administration: Patients must be physically and mentally capable of ingesting the medication themselves.
Request Process: The request must be made directly by the patient (not via an advance directive or surrogate). It requires two verbal requests (with a 5-day waiting period between them) and one written request signed in the presence of two witnesses.

Patient & Provider Safeguards

Right to Rescind: Patients have the ultimate autonomy to change their mind and withdraw their request, or to receive the prescription and decide not to ingest it.
Physician Requirement: No doctor, health care facility, or pharmacist is legally required to participate.
Counseling: Physicians are legally obligated to inform patients of all available alternative care options, including palliative care, pain control, and hospice.
Penalties: The law enforces felony charges against anyone found guilty of forging a request or coercing a patient to request the medication.

Insurance & Documentation

Under the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, life insurance policies and annuities cannot be denied to the families of those who use the law, and the cause of death listed on the death certificate will formally cite the underlying terminal disease. For further guidance or to access the full legal text, visit the Illinois General Assembly.

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