By Walt Zlotow
‘Right to Die’ signing reminds me once again why I’m a proud Illinoisan.
It took a while but I knew Gov. JB Pritzker would sign legislation allowing doctors to help terminally ill people end their lives. Illinois becomes just the 11th state to allow assisted dying.
In signing the bill Pritzker said he was moved by supporters:
“… dedication to standing up for freedom and choice at the end of life in the midst of personal heartbreak. Today, Illinois honors their strength and courage by enacting legislation that enables patients faced with debilitating terminal illnesses to make a decision, in consultation with a doctor, that helps them avoid unnecessary pain and suffering at the end of their lives.”
Right to die joins other sensible policy measures Illinois enacted to make life better for all Illinoisans.
In 2011 Illinois became the 16th state to abolish the barbaric death penalty. In the 14 years since just 7 more states followed Illinois’ sensible lead.
Two years later Illinois became the 16th state to legalize same sex marriage. Had not the Supreme Court legalized it nationally, Illinois would likely still be an outlier in respecting every person’s marriage partner choice.
Illinois has always been in the forefront protecting a woman’s right to choose. So much so that many from nearby anti-abortion states travel to Illinois for pregnancy care denied them by their cruel home states.
Just recently, Illinois government pushed back hard against Trump storm troopers masquerading as law enforcement but simply causing chaos and societal disruption on Chicago’s streets.
Illinois has problems. But overall it is among the most decent, caring states for anyone to reside in. I’ve been privileged to enjoy humane Illinois governance now for 80 years.
Walt Zlotow Glen Ellyn IL
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Having watched two people close to me come to the end of their lives recently, I applaud the right to die movement. Both people had signed documents, endorsed by their doctors that should the time come when all hope had gone, they could be assisted in dying. Neither used the options, loved ones were with them to the end of that journey.
It is a far cry from the time my father died, so many years ago. Like the two mentioned, he too died of cancer, but palliative care was a different proposition in those days. He was shunted off to hospital and placed in a bed on the verandah of the hospital to die alone. We received telephone call advising us of his passing. He was not offered the option of assisted dying, he was not offered the option of having his family and loved ones visit. His was a painful, lonely end, tough on him and tough on those who survived him.
I am constantly confused by suicide and euthanasic, one is illegal and the other is sanction in somes regions. Both are about a persons right to end their lives when they feel the time is right. It is not for us to gainsay the feelings of others, we don’t suffer their pain or torment, we, at best are just caring onlookers.
The right to terminate one’s life, should be an inalienable right for all human beings.
My wife and I both have Advance Health Directives (Qld) that our children know about, have copies of, and will follow our wishes.
We both went a step further and both have – on the left of our chest – a tattoo that says “Do NOT Resuscitate”.
So, why did we go the AHD route? Because my wife, for a number of years, was Nurse Unit Manager of a palliative care ward, and came home with some very distressing stories about families arguing about end of life care for a relative.
I must say that the tattoos have caused some discussions amongst hospital staff when we have needed to disrobe for a procedure.
On a lighter note, I told my wife that the tattoo was the most painful thing I could remember, and her response was “well, you’ve never had a baby”.
We both had a good laugh!