PEORIA, IL -- The Final Options Illinois group, supporting death with dignity/aid in dying/physician assisted death, hopes to make the process legal in Illinois after the 2018 election.
The group presented a film, "How to Die in Oregon," followed by a discussion at the North Branch of the Peoria Public Library on Sept. 24, an event that attracted about 30 people.
The two-hour film was too long, and like most documentaries could have been cut to an hour or so. But it was compelling.
Final Options Illinois states "mentally competent adults, suffering intolerably at end of life should have the legal right to an easy, hastened death, and their doctors and loved ones should have the right to help them."
Several states and Canada have passed laws based on the Oregon model, and Illinois should also do so, said Ed Gogol, president of Final Options Illinois.
The group is in a coalition with the American Civil Liberties Union, advocating for the law, he said. Aside from Chicago, Urbana has a chapter, and Peoria should also have one, he said, taking names and information at the meeting.
There are now 2,500 members in Illinois, he said. By using the law, the death is not legally a suicide, he said.
A physician at the meeting, Dr. Steve Smart, said he is opposed, and said the local, state and national medical societies oppose the law. "This is physician assisted suicide," he said.
Nationally more than half of doctors favor the law, Gogol said.
There have been no cases of abuse or coercion in Oregon, he said. About half who access the prescribed medication, usually Seconal, actually take it to end their suffering, he said. Under the law they must be mentally capable adults and able to say 'yes' to a doctor on the day they decide to die.
Anyone can join Final Options Illinois by sending a donation, he said. There are no dues. The best national group is Compassion in Choices, he said.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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