Deb Robertson, a 68-year-old advocate for end-of-life options in Illinois, became a prominent figure in the movement to legalize medically assisted death after being diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer. The illness forced her to retire from her work with homeless youth, a role she held for three decades. Illinois became the first Midwestern state and the 13th state overall (plus the District of Columbia) to authorize medically assisted death with the enactment of "Deb's Law" on September 12. Robertson believes she was given extra time by God to see the law pass, emphasizing the right to leave this life with dignity and on one’s own terms. The practice of allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients end their lives with medication has been legalized in several countries, with many more considering it. In the U.S., New York and Illinois recently joined the growing number of states with such legislation. However, the issue remains controversial, with opponents—such as religious groups, lawmakers, and disability advocates—raising moral objections. Some argue that even with safeguards, the decision to end life could be made for the wrong reasons. Ebony Payne, a Chicago-based disability advocate who is quadriplegic, was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against "Deb's Law," arguing that it discriminates against people with disabilities. She expressed disappointment with the law's enactment, hoping it would be repealed. Pope Leo XIV urged Illinois Governor JB Pritzker not to sign the bill and later expressed disappointment that Illinois passed the law, which the Catholic Church condemns. Six Catholic dioceses in Illinois criticized the law, stating it puts the state "on a dangerous and heartbreaking path." Dr. Jessica Kaan, a medical director for End of Life Washington, has helped hundreds of patients in Washington and Oregon with assisted dying. Her mother, a practicing Christian, opposes the practice on religious grounds. Kaan argues that having the option gives terminally ill patients a sense of comfort, even if they might not use it. She respects those who choose not to use the option but opposes others trying to dictate choices for them. State by state, the movement toward legalizing medical aid-in-dying has spread. Oregon was the first U.S. state to pass such a law, which took effect in 1997. Most states require that a patient have an incurable illness with less than six months to live, be mentally competent, and be able to take the prescribed medication without assistance. The latest states to legalize the practice include New York and Illinois, which are among the most populous in the country. Nearly one-third of Americans live in a state where this end-of-life option is legal, though the practice remains relatively uncommon in the U.S., accounting for about 15,000 deaths since the Oregon law was enacted. Peg Sandeen, CEO of the Death with Dignity National Center, said there is clear evidence that the safeguards in place work, noting that police are not pursuing cases of coercion, and doctors are not losing their licenses for participating. Opposition from religious and disability groups remains strong. Before "Deb's Law" went into effect, a judge denied a request for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit by Ebony Payne and disability groups that aimed to block the law, stating they had not proven standing or imminent harm. Payne expressed disappointment, hoping the law would be repealed. Chicago's archbishop, Cardinal Blase Cupich, and Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki challenged the law in separate lawsuits and won limited protections, though the law was not blocked. Cupich told The Associated Press that the law normalizes suicide, which seems contradictory given the state's suicide hotline. A judge temporarily blocked the state from enforcing the law on Catholic groups that challenged it, arguing that it could compel Catholic healthcare providers to refer or provide help against their faith. Advocates, doctors, and academics involved with the procedure say that none of the medically assisted dying laws in the U.S. define the practice as assisted suicide. They note that the American Association of Suicidology has stated that "suicide and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) are conceptually, medically, and legally different phenomena." Equating assisted dying with suicide is considered misleading and harmful, said Anita Hannig, a cultural anthropologist and author of "The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America." She emphasized that none of the deaths she attended were suicides. Terminally ill patients who have sought this type of legislation insist they are not suicidal. Robertson said it really bothered her that people equate her choice with suicide. She emphasized that she wants to live but must accept that she will eventually die, and her family must accept that as well. She said the new law makes her feel safe and peaceful, giving her the choice to go out the way she wants. She believes that other people who are terminally ill should have the choice to have some control over their lives.