11/24/2025
A new Chicago Tribune investigation found that hospitals in the Chicago area have filed hundreds of guardianship petitions in the past 18 months. Instead of helping people get the services they need to return home, many hospitals are pushing them into long-term guardianships that take away basic decision-making rights.
Families told the Tribune they were left out of the process. Advocates warned that what starts as a discharge challenge can quickly become a legal action that decides where a person lives, who they can see, and how they manage their everyday life.
The article includes important comments from two attorneys at Equip for Equality:
• Jin Ho Chung, a Senior Attorney on the Civil Rights Team, explains that guardianship should never be the default and that hospitals often overlook less restrictive options, prioritizing their administrative concerns over the rights of patients.
• Cristina Headley, Supervising Attorney for the Community Integration and Self Determination (CISD) Team, notes that in practice, ending guardianships seems to be more difficult than appointing them, when precisely the opposite should be the case.
At Equip for Equality, we help people challenge unnecessary guardianships, restore their rights, and get the supports they need to exercise self-determination. Guardianship is a serious legal step and should only be used when truly necessary. Illinois law requires considering alternatives first, and this investigation shows that too many hospitals are skipping that step.
If you or someone you know is facing guardianship or wants information about restoration, Equip for Equality can help.
Chicago-area hospitals recently initiated hundreds of guardianship petitions in just 18 months, a Chicago Tribune investigation has found.
