FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

The Hemlock Society, Illinois Chapter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Frankovich

Contact: Josephina

May 1, 2015
endofliferights@gmail.com
SUPPORT SENATE BILL 1234 REPEAL ILLINOIS CRIMINAL CODE OF
1961!
WHAT: The Illinois Criminal Code of 1961 section 12-34.5 currently classifies
any person that has the knowledge that another person intends to commit
or attempt to commit suicide intentionally, offers and provides the physical
means by which another person commits
or attempts to commit
suicide, or participates in a physical act by which another person commits or
attempts to commit suicide as a class A misdemeanor.
This criminal laws creates a barrier between physicians and families
that want to allow a
loved one or patient to end their life on their own
terms. By allowing a terminally ill individual to end their own life,
unnecessary pain and suffering may be avoided.
Additionally, the
witnessing of such pain by family and friends can also be avoided and may
allow for an easier grieving process for those left behind.
By ridding this section of the Criminal Code, physicians will be allowed to
fulfill the end of life wishes of their patients without the risk or fear of being
criminally penalized through the Illinois justice system.
Oregon and Washington both utilize Death with Dignity Laws that allow
terminally ill
patients to end their lives peacefully and not endure pain
and suffering. Before these same laws can be implemented in Illinois,
criminal prosecution of physicians looking to
fulfill end of life rights needs
to be lifted to allow these laws to be placed.
WHO: Ed Gogol, president of the Illinois Chapter of the Hemlock Society has
been quoted
stating, Death with Dignity laws allow terminally ill
patients to die on their own terms. If I ever become ill, I want to ability to
skip the pain and suffering of the disease, and die
coherent surrounding
by my friends and families. Support SB 1234 and pave the way for
Death with Dignity Laws in Illinois!
TAKE ACTION: Contact Senator Kwame Raoul and ask him to support SB
1234. Repeal Section
12-34.5 Paragraphs 2A and 2B of the
Illinois Criminal Code of 1961! Provide a
safe and peaceful
opportunity to die when terminally ill.
#endofliferights
#deathwithdignity

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SUPPORT SB 1234 and talk about death with dignity. Death holds no
bias, do you want to right to control your own death?

#endofliferights
#deathwithdignity

Follow @endofliferights on Twitter

Search Death with Dignity on Facebook