From State Rep. Adam Niemerg:
Rep. Adam Niemerg: Democrats double down on their fixation with the culture of death
Dieterich, IL – In the early hours of the morning, while most of Illinois were at home sleeping, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1950, legalizing physician-assisted suicide, a horrific piece of legislation, backed by what State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) has termed the “party of death.”
Senate Bill 1950 legalizes physician assisted suicide for individuals with certain medical conditions.
“There is a crucial difference between providing comfort care for a dying patient and enabling that patient to end their own life,” said State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich). “The idea of a physician administering poison so that patients can kill themselves is nothing short of outrageous. We are experiencing a real-life Halloween horror right before our very eyes.”
Supporters of this barbaric legislation are spreading deliberate lies, claiming it will only apply to a limited number of severe terminal cases. However, history shows that once the door to legal suicide is cracked open, it will soon be pushed wide open. In Canada, where physician-assisted suicide was initially limited by stringent requirements, it has now become the fifth-leading cause of death, with over 10,000 cases reported in 2023 alone. Only deaths from cancer, heart disease, COVID-19, and accidents surpassed it.
“Are we really prepared to allow this atrocity to take root in Illinois? If we open our state to this, we will see a massive increase in the number of people committing suicide,” Niemerg said. “Doctors should be focused on saving lives, not destroying them.”
The Illinois State Medical Society stands in opposition to this dangerous legislation, recognizing that it threatens the ethical foundations of medical practice. By legitimizing suicide, Senate Bill 1950 sends a harmful message to our youth that life is meaningless and valueless. This is not the kind of society we should strive to achieve.
“We must prioritize the value of life and provide compassionate care to those in need, rather than enabling despair,” Niemerg said. “A healthy society is one that embraces and supports life – not one than destroys it.”
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From State Rep. Bill Hauter:
State Rep. Bill Hauter: Physician Assisted Suicide is Not Just a Slippery Slope – It is a Slippery Cliff
Morton, IL – In the early hours of the morning, while most families were sleeping, the Senate passed a bill legalizing physician-assisted suicide, prioritizing this controversial measure over the need to address critical issues such as lowering taxes, fixing pensions, and providing relief for skyrocketing electric rates, according to State Representative Bill Hauter, MD, (R-Morton).
“This is just another example of a corrupt and cowardly process that advances legislation of this consequence without warning in the dead of night without any input from stakeholders that have fought so hard to protect the miracle of life. As a State Representative and physician dedicated to preserving life and alleviating suffering, I stand firmly against the legalization of physician-assisted suicide,” Hauter said. “The very foundation of medicine rests upon the principle of ‘do no harm.’ This legislation inherently violates our sacred oath and forever alters the patient-physician relationship. We should be a society that values life instead of one that celebrates death.”
Hauter noted that Canada has seen a troubling expansion of assisted suicide, with recent reports indicating that it has become increasingly accessible, leading to concerns about the potential for abuse and the erosion of the sanctity of life. In 2023 alone, Canada reported more than 10,000 medically assisted deaths, raising alarms about the moral implications and the value placed on human life. Hauter said this should serve as a warning sign for Illinois.
“As physicians, our role is to heal, to comfort, relieve suffering, and advocate for our patients,” Hauter asserted. “Allowing patients to choose death goes against everything the medical community represents. This is why the Illinois State Medical Society opposes this dangerous legislation. Our focus should be on building a healthcare system that truly supports patients facing the end of life. We are not just heading toward the cliff; we are sliding down it.”
Senate Bill 1950 moves to the Governor’s for further consideration.
