Kane County Reporter

Devin Corbett, chairman of the Aurora Township Republicans, expressed strong opposition to the proposed Illinois assisted suicide bill. He described it as "a disgrace that devalues human dignity and corrupts the medical profession." Corbett made these remarks to the Kane County Reporter on February 26.

"The bill to legalize assisted suicide in Illinois is a shameful betrayal of the state's responsibility to safeguard its most vulnerable residents," said Corbett. "It diminishes the sanctity of life by promoting death over genuine medical care and emotional support for the terminally ill. Encouraging doctors to prescribe fatal drugs distorts their role as healers and erodes the ethical standards of medicine. Rather than endorsing hopelessness, Illinois should invest in palliative care and other compassionate, life-affirming solutions."

According to Capitol News Illinois, Illinois lawmakers are considering legalizing medical aid in dying (MAID) for terminally ill patients with less than six months to live. Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Senator Linda Holmes, would permit doctors to prescribe but not administer lethal drugs. Some physicians have expressed concerns about potential abuse due to weak safeguards, while disability advocates worry about misdiagnoses and coercion. The Catholic Church and other opponents of abortion and euthanasia reject MAID. Holmes supports the bill, noting her personal experience with cancer in her family, although the debate remains contentious.

Axios Chicago reported that if passed, this legislation would make Illinois the 11th state to legalize MAID. Since its inception in 1998, 5,329 patients have utilized MAID, predominantly cancer patients with a median age of 74. Axios noted that the American Medical Association opposes MAID as incompatible with a physician’s role. Other states such as Wisconsin and Massachusetts are also considering similar laws; Oregon has permitted MAID since 1994.

Corbett was first elected as Chairman of the Aurora Township Republican Party in 2024. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Aurora Township voters."