By Jonah Chester, Public News Service:

Advocates in Illinois are working in communities across the state to garner support for medical aid in dying, which they say guarantees terminally ill patients the right to a peaceful death.

Karen Retzer, Midwest campaign organizer for Compassion & Choices, said in addition to building support for medical aid in dying, volunteers also hope to encourage people to establish end-of-life plans sooner rather than later.

“People have, understandably, very different values and thoughts about how they want their end of life to be,” Retzer observed. “We hope to help them clarify for themselves what they want and what they don’t want, and to communicate that to those they love.”

Ten states and Washington, D.C., currently permit medical aid in dying, and roughly a dozen states have recently considered legislation to allow the option. While the Illinois General Assembly is not currently considering such a measure, Retzer pointed out volunteers have been meeting with their legislators to discuss their support.

Kim Callinan, CEO of Compassion & Choices, noted a recent poll commissioned by the organization found voters are more likely to support lawmakers who introduce or sponsor medical aid-in-dying legislation.

“The survey shows us that voters nationwide are eight times more likely than they are less likely to vote for a candidate for state legislature if they sponsor or support medical aid in dying,” Callinan reported.

The same poll showed broad backing for the option, as roughly seven out of 10 survey respondents indicated support for medical aid in dying for terminally ill patients.

Jim Lee, CEO of Susquehanna Polling and Research, which conducted the poll, said support spans party lines and religious affiliations.

“The fact that we have strong consensus on this type of medical issue, I think, speaks volumes,” Lee remarked.

Per the poll, roughly equal amounts of self-identified Republican and Democrat respondents support medical aid in dying, with 68% of both Catholic and Protestant respondents, 83% of Jewish respondents supporting the option.

Disclosure: Compassion & Choices contributes to our fund for reporting on Civic Engagement, Health Issues, Senior Issues, and Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

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