Robyn Gabel Illinois State Representative for the 18th District | https://www.momscleanairforce.org/interview-rep-robyn-gabel-ill/
Robyn Gabel Illinois State Representative for the 18th District | https://www.momscleanairforce.org/interview-rep-robyn-gabel-ill/
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Creates the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act. Authorizes a qualified patient with a terminal disease to request that a physician prescribe aid-in-dying medication that will allow the patient to end the patient's life in a peaceful manner. Contains provisions concerning: the procedures and forms to be used to request aid-in-dying medication; the responsibilities of attending and consulting physicians; the referral of patients for determinations of mental capacity; the residency of qualified patients; the safe disposal of unused medications; the obligations of health care entities; the immunities granted for actions taken in good faith reliance upon the Act; the reporting requirements of physicians; the effect of the Act on the construction of wills, contracts, and statutes; the effect of the Act on insurance policies and annuities; the procedures for the completion of death certificates; the liabilities and penalties provided by the Act; the construction of the Act; the definitions of terms used in the Act; and other matters. Effective 6 months after becoming law."
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, allowing qualified terminally ill adult residents of Illinois to request aid-in-dying medication from a physician. It outlines the procedures for making oral and written requests, the responsibilities of attending and consulting physicians to confirm diagnoses and ensure patients are informed of all care options, and the determination of patients' mental capacities. The bill details safe disposal procedures for unused medication, grants immunities to health care professionals and entities acting in good faith, and requires reporting compliance from physicians. It mandates an annual public statistical report with non-identifying information. Additionally, it specifies how the Act affects construction of wills, contracts, insurance policies, and the execution of death certificates, ensuring that actions under the Act are not considered suicide or homicide. Penalties are outlined for coercion or misconduct, and the Act becomes effective six months after becoming law.
Gabel graduated from Beloit College in 1975 with a BA and again in 1997 from Loyola University School of Law at Chicago with an MJ.
Robyn Gabel is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 18th House District. She replaced previous state representative Julie Hamos in 2010.
Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.
You can read more about bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB1328 | 01/14/2025 | Creates the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act. Authorizes a qualified patient with a terminal disease to request that a physician prescribe aid-in-dying medication that will allow the patient to end the patient's life in a peaceful manner. Contains provisions concerning: the procedures and forms to be used to request aid-in-dying medication; the responsibilities of attending and consulting physicians; the referral of patients for determinations of mental capacity; the residency of qualified patients; the safe disposal of unused medications; the obligations of health care entities; the immunities granted for actions taken in good faith reliance upon the Act; the reporting requirements of physicians; the effect of the Act on the construction of wills, contracts, and statutes; the effect of the Act on insurance policies and annuities; the procedures for the completion of death certificates; the liabilities and penalties provided by the Act; the construction of the Act; the definitions of terms used in the Act; and other matters. Effective 6 months after becoming law. |
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