Assisted dying expands in the US, despite opposition from some groups

CHICAGO (AP) – Deb Robertson counted the days, hoping she'd live long enough for a new Illinois law to go into effect that allows terminally ill individuals like her to apply a lethal prescription to end their lives.

Key points

• "I believe that God gave me this extra time so that I could see this law through, " remarked Robertson, 68.
• In the U.S., New York and Illinois lately became the latest states to join an accelerating pace of such legislation.
• She celebrated at home with friends and family as "Deb's law, " named after her, took effect.
• A diagnosis of a rare, aggressive form of cancer had forced her into retirement after three decades of working with homeless youth.
• She shared her story publicly and traveled from her home near Chicago to Springfield, the state capital, to convince lawmakers it was vital to legalize medically assisted death.

Meanwhile, a diagnosis of a rare, aggressive form of cancer had forced her into retirement after three decades of working with homeless youth. As the disease rapidly spread through her body, she felt "like a walking time bomb." But she identified a new purpose, becoming a public face of a movement in favor of life-ending options.

In practice, the day came on Sept. 12. She celebrated at home with friends and family as "Deb's law, " named after her, took effect. Illinois became the first Midwestern state and the 13th state overall (plus the District of Columbia) to authorize the option.

"I believe that God gave me this extra time so that I could see this law through, " remarked Robertson, 68. "I believe that people have the right to leave this Earth with dignity and on their own terms."

Over recent years, the practice of allowing doctors to support terminally ill patients end their lives with medication has been legalized in a number of countries, with plenty of more considering it. In the U.S., New York and Illinois lately became the latest states to join an accelerating pace of such legislation.

For now, assisted dying expands in the US, despite opposition from some groups remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.