Illinois Right to Life Celebrates Defeat of Physician Assisted Suicide
Illinois Right to Life Celebrates End of Legislative Session and Defeat of Physician-Assisted Suicide
CHICAGO, IL – Illinois Right to Life is celebrating the close of the 2025 legislative session with a significant victory: the defeat of a dangerous Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) bill that would have legalized physician assisted suicide in our state.
The Illinois Legislature attempted multiple strategies to push this bill through, including a legislative sleight of hand: after identical PAS bills stalled in both the House and Senate, proponents amended a food sanitation bill, stripping its original content and replacing it with PAS language. The maneuver allowed the bill to reach the House floor, where it passed. However, the Senate did not vote to concur with the amended language—effectively killing the bill for now.
“This is a critical win for Illinois’ most vulnerable citizens,” said Mary Kate Zander, President of Illinois Right to Life. “Our lawmakers heard from thousands of Illinoisans who refused to allow death to become a state-sanctioned ‘treatment.’ We are grateful to our coalition partners, and most of all, to the countless constituents who made their voices heard. We give glory to God.”
Despite this victory, Illinois Right to Life is disappointed by the passage of two deeply troubling chemical abortion bills, both of which are now headed to the Governor’s desk.
HB3709: Forced Promotion and Dispensing of Abortion Drugs on College Campuses
This bill amends the Public Higher Education Act, forcing public universities to:
Provide access to abortionists authorized to prescribe chemical abortion drugs
Dispense these drugs through campus pharmacies
Promote chemical abortion on their official websites
“These drugs starve preborn children to death and pose serious risks to women’s health,” said Mary Kate Zander. “No woman should be committing her own abortion alone in a dorm room. This bill not only endangers lives—it targets young women at one of their most vulnerable moments.”
Unprecedented Defiance of Federal Drug Safety Standards
In an unprecedented act of political overreach, Illinois lawmakers have decided they know better than the FDA. Apparently, when it comes to women’s health, politics trumps science.
The Illinois Legislature passed a bill that will allow Illinois to ignore FDA safety decisions on chemical abortion pills—as long as the World Health Organization (WHO) supports their use.
Illinois Right to Life remains committed to protecting women, children, and the medically vulnerable. We will continue to educate, advocate, and build a culture that respects every human life.
For press inquiries or interview requests, contact Mary Kate Zander at marykate@illinoisrighttolife.org.
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