The US State of Illinois has legalised assisted dying, after the Governor, JB Pritzker, signed it into law. It becomes the 13th jurisdiction in the US, and the 35th jurisdiction internationally to enact an assisted dying law. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are hailing this historic moment and are calling on the House of Lords to constructively work on the Terminally Ill Adults Bill, so dying Brits can face the same choices as the people of Illinois.
The legislation had already passed the Illinois Senate by 30 votes to 27, and the House by 63 votes to 42. It should come into effect after 180 days.
What does the international picture look like?
Since Kim Leadbeater MP announced she would introduce an assisted dying Bill in October 2024, the Isle of Man, the US state of Delaware, Uruguay, and now Illinois have passed assisted dying legislation.
The Australian Capital Territory’s legislation, passed in 2023, has come into effect, and a new Bill focusing on the accessibility of assisted dying has been passed in Victoria, Australia. Tuscany in Italy became the first Italian region to adopt a law implementing assisted dying, following Italy’s Constitutional Court ruling.
Assisted dying bills in Jersey and Scotland are expected to pass in early 2026. The Terminally Ill Adults Bill must pass all stages by spring 2026
What does Illinois’ new law look like?
The law in Illinois is very similar to the proposed Terminally Ill Adults Bill.
Both Bills require applicants to:
- Be adults (aged 18 or over)
- Be terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less
- Have mental capacity and be acting voluntarily, without coercion
- Be independently assessed by at least two doctors, who must confirm diagnosis, prognosis, capacity and voluntariness
- Complete formal requests and documentation, with mandatory waiting periods
Both Bills introduce explicit criminal penalties for coercion or abuse under the law.
The key difference is that the UK’s proposed Bill requires a three-person Assisted Dying Review Panel (legal chair, psychiatrist, social worker) to assess the patient after the two independent doctors. This is overseen by a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner (senior judge). The waiting periods in the UK Bill are also much longer.
Richy Thompson, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at Humanists UK, said:
‘I hope England and Wales follow in the footsteps of Illinois and make us the 36th jurisdiction in the world to allow legal, safe, and compassionate assisted dying. We currently have no system and therefore no safeguards, and the terminally ill are suffering, taking matters into their own hands or fleeing to Switzerland. With clear safeguards and practical implementation, we can give dying people real choice and control when they need it most.’
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan@humanists.uk or phone 07456 200033. (media only)
Humanists UK is making the following photos available to the media to use – credit to Simona Sermont/Humanists UK – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision have people and their loved ones who would be affected by this change available for the press.
If you have been affected by the current assisted dying legislation, and want to use your story to support a change in the law, please email campaigns@humanists.uk.
Humanists defend the right of each individual to live by their own personal values, and the freedom to make decisions about their own life so long as this does not result in harm to others. Humanists do not share the attitudes to death and dying held by some religious believers, in particular that the manner and time of death are for a deity to decide, and that interference in the course of nature is unacceptable. We firmly uphold the right to life but we recognise that this right carries with it the right of each individual to make their own judgement about whether their life should be prolonged in the face of pointless suffering.
We recognise that any assisted dying law must contain strong safeguards and the international evidence from countries where assisted dying is legal shows that safeguards can be effective. We also believe that the choice of assisted dying should not be considered an alternative to palliative care, but should be offered together as in many other countries.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.
My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.
Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are both members of the Assisted Dying Coalition, along with Friends at the End, Humanist Society Scotland, and End of Life Choices Jersey.