>> THERE'S MOVEMENT IN ILLINOIS TO ALLOW TERMINALLY ILL ADULTS TO CHOOSE WHEN AND HOW TO END THEIR OWN LIVES.

THE NAME OF THE PRACTICES DEBATED MEDICAL AID IN DYING TO SOME AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE TO OTHERS.

EITHER WAY ADVOCATES ARE HOPING THE ISSUE COMES UP IN SPRINGFIELD SOON.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE, OUR DEB ROBERTSON, ADVOCATE FOR MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

AMY SHERMAN, MIDWEST ADVOCACY DIRECTOR WITH COMPASSION AND CHOICES.

ACTION NETWORK, ILLINOIS DOCTOR MARY KEEN KERCH OFF AN ATTENDING PHYSICIAN WITH NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAYOR ENJOY REHABILITATION HOSPITAL IN.

WE CAN AND A MEMBER OF STAFF ASSISTED SUICIDE, ILLINOIS AND ERIC SHIDLER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PRO-LIFE ACTION LEAGUE.

THANKS TO 4 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE JUST MENTIONED, WE MAY NOT AGREE ON THE ISSUE ITSELF, BUT THERE'S ALSO DISAGREEMENT ON WHAT TO CALL THE ISSUE.

I'M AMY, WHY MEDICAL AID IN DYING?

>> WELL, FIRST BECAUSE IT IS NOT ASSISTED MEDICAL AID IN DYING IS A TIME TESTED PRACTICE, WHICH ALLOWS A TERMINALLY ILL MENTALLY CAPABLE ADULT WITH A PROGNOSIS OF 6 MONTHS OR LESS.

THE OPTION TO REQUEST AND TAKE MEDICATION THAT WILL RESULT IN A PEACEFUL DEATH IF THEY'RE SUFFERING BECOMES UNBEARABLE.

IT'S NOT SUICIDE.

SUICIDE IS WHEN SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, CONSCIOUSLY WANTS TO DIE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT HIM.

WHEN YOU PEOPLE KNOW THAT THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO GENERALLY WANT TO DIE.

THEY HAVE NO CHOICE.

THEY'RE ALREADY DIED.

THIS IS ABOUT HOW THEY DIE.

THE DYE IS A MORE ACCURATE TERM.

IS REALLY GETTING A PRESCRIPTION SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE A MEDICATION THAT RESULT IN A PEACEFUL WE WILL HEAR IN-DEPTH STORY JUST JUST A SECOND AS WELL.

DOCTOR, KING, COURAGE OFF PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE.

WHY?

>> WHY IS THAT THE BETTER TERM?

BECAUSE MEDICAL AID IN DYING THAT TERM IS DECEPTIVE.

>> AND PERVERSE.

THERE'S NOTHING MEDICAL ABOUT HELPING A PATIENT COMMIT SUICIDE.

KILLING IS NOT CARING.

WITHIN THE TERM MEDICAL ASSISTED.

IT PLACES.

RIGHT ALONGSIDE PELLET HAVE ANOTHER LEGITIMATE THEIR PEAK OPTIONS.

MEDICAL AID IN DYING PUTS ACT OF SUICIDE OR KILLING.

AND TO RESPECT CONTEXT, IT DOES NOT BELONG.

IT'S NOT A RESPECTABLE THING.

THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION IS SIMPLY A VERY BAD IDEA.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE TURNS PEOPLE WHO WERE TRAINED TO SAVE LIVES.

AND TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE CARE INTO AGENTS OF DEATH.

SO YOU'RE SAYING IT GOES, IT GOES AGAINST WHAT PHYSICIANS, WHAT DOCTORS ARE TRAINED TO DO, WHICH IS FIRST TO TAKE AN OATH, DO NO HARM.

>> AND YOU'RE SEEING THIS.

THIS IS THE OPPOSITE THAT EXACTLY EXACTLY RESPOND TO THAT.

WELL, AND I WANT TO DO WHAT I I WANT TO GET WANT TO GET DEVON ERICK AND HERE AS WELL.

BUT YES, WE WILL CERTAINLY BE AN OPPORTUNITY ON BECAUSE DEAD, BUT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR AND YOUR PROGNOSIS?

>> WELL, MY DIAGNOSIS IS NO.

AND THE CARCINOMA HIGH GRADE, WHICH IS VERY RARE, VERY AGGRESSIVE.

TERMINAL CANCER.

I MY PROGNOSIS I'M GOING BACK.

I'M GOING TO DIE SOON.

HOW I'M GOING TO DIE IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.

AS WELL FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

AND WHEN I WAS RECEIVED THIS DIAGNOSIS IN JANUARY OF 2022.

I HAD TO QUIT MY JOB, WHICH WAS WORKING WITH HOMELESS YOU FOR OVER 30 YEARS, SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY, VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND VERY, VERY DRIVEN TOWARDS.

I I FOUND THAT I NEEDED TO FIND SOMETHING THAT I REALLY, REALLY BELIEVED IN SOMETHING THAT WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT HAVING TO RETIRE, NOT BE ABLE TO WORK.

MEDICAL AID IN DYING IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVED BEFORE I HAD MY DIAGNOSIS WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PERSON, I ALWAYS FELT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT EACH PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO.

OBLIGE.

I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS DIAGNOSIS AND I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING THAT I CAN TO HELP MYSELF AND OTHERS NOT HAVE TO DIE.

WITHOUT PEACE.

I HAVE WATCHED ALMOST 12 OF MY FRIENDS WORLDWIDE THAT I'VE MET THROUGH MY MY CANCER DIAGNOSIS DIE.

IN PAIN WITH HOSPICE WITH PALLIATIVE CARE.

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH A DOCTOR CAN DO FOR PAIN RELIEF.

I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED AND I WANT TO GO OUT, LIKE I AM TODAY.

I CAME TODAY WITH MY FAMILY WITH MY FRIENDS.

WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL.

I WANT TO BE ABLE SHOW THAT I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE UGLY.

I'VE SEEN MY FRIENDS AND PEOPLE I KNOW WITH THIS TYPE OF CANCER AND MANY OTHER CANCERS.

BUT I DEALING WITH MY CANCER.

I I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.

AND IF I IF I COULD NOT WORRY ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS.

>> LIKE IF I COULD NOT WORRY ABOUT HOW I'M GOING TO DIE.

I COULD LIVE EACH DAY THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW.

IN TODAY.

ENJOY THOSE PEOPLE THAT I AND OF COURSE, SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR DIAGNOSIS AND THAT IS THAT THIS IS YOUR FATE ON.

>> ERIC, WHEN YOU HEAR FROM SOMEONE LIKE DEB, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?

WHAT DO YOU SAY FOLKS WHO WHO FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY FIRST OF MY HEART IS BROKEN FOR.

WE'VE JUST MET.

BUT I MEAN, HEARING ABOUT SOMEBODY WITH THIS TYPE OF DIAGNOSIS DEDICATED HER LIFE TO HELPING THE HOMELESS.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING.

>> AND I HAVE TREMENDOUS SYMPATHY FOR YOU.

FOR ANYBODY FACING THAT SITUATION.

THE PROBLEM IS SO THERE'S A DARK SIDE TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE IN EVERY LOCATION WHERE THIS TYPE MEASURE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

ITS EXPANDED THE ORIGINAL IDEAS TO KEEP IT VERY NARROW.

AMY, DESCRIBE FOR US, YOU KNOW, WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF DYING, TERMINALLY ILL, WE'VE SEEN VASTLY EXPANDED AND OTHER PLACES IN OREGON KENT AND CANADA AND VERY OFTEN.

THE END RESULT FOR THE MOST DISABLED AND THE MOST DISENFRANCHISED IMPORTS.

PEOPLE IS VERY DARK.

GUY NAMED ROGER FULLY UP IN CANADA, HAD TO SUE THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT.

HE NEEDED ASSISTED LIVING AT HOME.

THEY TOLD HIM YOU CAN PAY $1500 A DAY FOR THAT OR YOU CAN HAVE A DOCTOR HELP YOU DIE.

A WOMAN NAMED SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL VANCOUVER BECAUSE SHE WAS FEELING SUICIDAL.

SHE NEEDED HELP BECAUSE SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT KILLING HERSELF.

THEY TOLD HER THERE'S NOT A ROOM AVAILABLE FOR YOU.

YOU CAN SEE A PSYCHIATRIST UNTIL NOVEMBER WAS IN JUNE, BUT WE COULD ASSIST TO INDICT.

SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR HELP TO NOT KILL HERSELF AND THEY OFFER HELP KILLING HERSELF.

SO SO THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.

IT GOING AWRY EVERY PLACE WHERE IT'S AND IMPLEMENTED.

WE HEAR HORRIBLE STORIES WHAT WHAT ARE THE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS BEFORE I ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE'S NO NEED.

>> FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, PALLIATIVE SEDATION AND MINISTERING A PAIN MEDICINE TO ELIMINATE PAIN IS ALREADY LEGAL EVERYWHERE.

>> NOW THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH ACCESS AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

THERE'S NO NEED PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE.

NOW ISSUES ABOUT THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE LEGISLATION, PUTTING DISABILITIES ON THE PART UNACCEPTABLE RISK HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN A NATIONAL STUDY BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY WAS FOUNDED IN 9TH.

THIS COUNCIL WAS FOUNDED IN 1984.

TO ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THEY HAVE PUBLISHED TO REPORT ON ASSISTED SUICIDE.

VIGOROUSLY OPPOSING LEGISLATION OF ASSISTED SUICIDE.

THEY THERE REPORTS.

CONCLUDED THAT ANY BENEFIT FROM ASSISTED SUICIDE WERE HEAVILY OUTWEIGHED.

BUT THE PROBABILITY THAT ANY OF PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS THAT CAN BE IMPOSED TO REGULATE PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE.

BE MISAPPLIED TO UNNECESSARILY COME THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

SO WANT TO I WANT TO BE SURE BEFORE WE GET OUT OF TIME, WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE WILL GET SOME REACTION IN HERE AS WHAT SAFEGUARDS THERE BE AGAINST THIS CONCERN?

WELL, THERE'S MORE THAN A DOZEN SAFEGUARDS.

BY THE WAY, THERE'S SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AND HIS LAWSUIT SAYS THEY ELIGIBILITY CANNOT BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY OR AGE.

>> BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE TO PHYSICIANS THAT ASSESS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA THERE'S MANDATORY COUNSELING ON ALL TREATMENT OPTIONS.

SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE.

THERE INDEPENDENT WITNESSES TO THE REQUESTS.

IF SOMEBODY HAS DEEMED POTENTIALLY NOT CAPABLE OF MAKING A MEDICAL DECISION.

>> THERE WERE FOR TOOL AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR AN ASSESSMENT.

I COULD GO ON AND ON.

AND BY THE WAY, IT'S A FAMILY FELT FELONY COURSE OR TO 40 PRESCRIPTION.

I DO WANT TO IN TERMS OF THIS ISSUE AROUND PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES FIRST, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT 73% IN A RECENT POLL THAT WE DID PEOPLE WHO REPORTED LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, SUPPORT MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

THEY WANT TO HAVE THIS OPTION.

THEY RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S SAFE BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, WE HAVE EVIDENCE.

NO, THIS IS NOT A NEW THING.

THIS HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE, YOU 1997 IN OREGON AND IT'S AND IT'S AVAILABLE IN 10 STATES AND DC.

I WILL TELL YOU IN THE 25 NAMING A LOT OF THINGS.

BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN WON SUBSTANTIATED CASE FRAUD, ABUSE OR KORESHAN.

OKAY.

AND I CAN SEE YOU WANT TO GET IN HERE AND I WANT TO COME BACK TO JUST A SECOND.

BUT THE GOOD DOCTOR, KING KERCHIEF, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING EARLIER ABOUT THE PALLIATIVE SEDATION THAT EXIST.

>> ALREADY IN ILLINOIS DEBT.

DO YOU THINK THAT THAT IS ENOUGH TO SUPPORT SOMEONE WHO'S NOT GOING?

NO, I DON'T IN.

LET ME SAY NO, I DON'T BECAUSE I'VE SEEN LIVED AROUND PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THAT A PALLIATIVE CARE IN.

>> IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

AND THEY'RE STILL EXPERIENCING PAIN.

BUT ALSO IT'S ABOUT.

HAVING THE CHOICE TO BE ABLE TO DIE THE WAY I WANT TO DIE.

I'M REALLY OFFENDED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS SUICIDE BECAUSE I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO GET A TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS WITH, YOU A VERY AGGRESSIVE CANCER CELL.

THE SUICIDE PIECE IS IT'S GETTING A LITTLE BIT TO ME BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

IT'S I JUST WANT TO HAVE CONTROL OVER HOW I DIE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE.

>> IS THAT THERE'S THIS PIPE DREAM THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE HOW YOU DIE.

BUT WE KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS GO TO PLAN.

IT'S HARD TO KILL A PERSON AND IT'S THEY'RE STILL EXPERIMENTING ON THESE.

PATIENTS TRYING TO FIND THE BEST CONCOCTION FOR KILLING THEM.

IN SOME CASES IT TAKE.

USUALLY GOES PRETTY SWIFTLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS.

IT IS TAKEN 6, 9, HOURS IN ONE CASE, 3 DAYS FOR SOMEONE TO DIE.

SOMETIMES THE CHEMICALS JUST DON'T WORK AND THEY HAVE TO SUFFOCATE THE PERSON OF THE PELLA HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

JUST LAST WEEK IN BELGIUM, A PATIENT HAD TO BE SUFFOCATED WITH A PILLOW BECAUSE THE CHEMICALS JUST DIDN'T.

WE'VE GOT 15 ALSO CROSS INCREDIBLE PAIN.

LET ME JUST DAY AND NONE OF THIS IS THE UNITED STATES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THOSE ARE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS WITH DIFFERENT MODELS.

OUR MODELS VERY, VERY RIGOROUS IN TERMS OF SAFEGUARDS.

MOREOVER, I WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT ILLINOIS STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY HAS ADOPTED A NEUTRAL POSITION BECAUSE 3 OUT OF A 2 OUT OF 3 PHYSICIANS AND POLLS SUPPORT AND MEDICAL AID.

AND I SO THE CAN BEING RIPPED TO GIVE ANY ANSWER THAT YOU WANT.

AND THAT IS WHEN WE'LL HAVE LEAVE ARTS HAVE PRO PROVEN PROVEN NOT TO WORK.

MS DIAGNOSIS OF TERMINAL.

WHERE ACTUALLY APOLOGIZE.

WE'RE ACTUALLY FRESH OUT OF TIME AND THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS MORE BECAUSE NOT IN AGREEMENT IT JUST YET.

BUT I HAVE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING DEB