Delaware Talking Points (2025)

By Margaret K. Dore, Esq., MBA

“Aid in Dying” has been a euphemism for physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia since at least 1992.

Per the American Medical Association, "physician-assisted suicide" occurs when a doctor facilitates a patient’s death by providing the means or information to enable a patient to perform the life-ending act. "Euthanasia" is the administration of a lethal agent by another person to kill a patient. 

Persons assisting a suicide or euthanasia can have a personal agenda. Reported motives include: the “thrill” of getting other people to kill themselves; and wanting to see someone die.

This year's proposed Act, HB 140, has a formal application process to obtain a lethal dose for the purpose of killing other people. Once a lethal dose is issued by a pharmacy or other legal distributor, there is no required oversight. No medical person or even an official witness is required to be present at the death.

Current Delaware law prevents a person who kills another person, i.e., commits homicide, from inheriting from a person that he or she killed. The rationale is that a criminal should not be allowed to benefit from his or her crime.

Per the proposed Act, however, a person who intentionally kills another person is allowed to inherit from the person he or she killed. This is because deaths occurring pursuant to the proposed Act will be treated as natural, as if the person who died, had died from natural causes as opposed to an intentional lethal overdose." 

In the event of the proposed Act’s passage, Delaware residents with money, meaning the middle class and above, will be rendered sitting ducks to their heirs. Passage of the Act will create a perfect crime.

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Delaware General Assembly Will Not Override Governor's Veto

Amanda Fries, Delaware News Journal

The Delaware General Assembly will not hold a special session to override Gov. John Carney’s recent veto of a bill that would have given terminally ill Delawareans’ end-of-life options. [Carney pictured right]

House Speaker Valerie Longhurst said Friday that she remains supportive of House Bill 140 but decided not to call a special session because neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives have the votes necessary to override the veto. 

Delaware Lawmaker & Former Insurance Agent Concerned About Adult Children

One of the reasons Governor Carney gave for vetoing HB 140 is that he did not believe that a consensus had been reached on this issue. Carney noted that the legislation was passed by "just one vote."

A different argument was presented by State Representative. Rich Collins [pictured here], who has been a vocal opponent of the bill, citing concerns that it could lead to seniors being coerced into prematurely ending their lives. Collins stated:

"I was an insurance agent for 37 years, and I sold life insurance and investments,” he told his colleagues in the chamber. “I had situations during my career where…the children of an older person made it clear they wanted their parents to go [die] because of the money. I have a lot of concerns about some people’s motives.”

Governor Vetoes Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia

By Amanda Flynn 

DELAWARE - Governor John Carney has vetoed legislation that would have allowed for medical aid in dying [assisted suicide & euthanasia] in Delaware. 

In June, the Delaware Senate ... passed House Bill 140, which grants terminally ill adults the ability to seek medical assistance to end their [lives] in a dignified manner. 

In a statement, Governor Carney said he consistently opposed a state law that would allow medical aid in dying. 

"I appreciate the thoughtful consideration of the legislation, and I recognize that the bill’s sponsors made compromises in an attempt to limit abuse and protect vulnerable patients," said Carney. 

Governor Carney went on to say he still does not believe a consensus has been reached on this issue. He noted that the legislation was passed by just one vote.

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Medical-Aid-in-Dying Bill (Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia) in Limbo

By Melissa Steele, July 26, 2024.

The Cape Gazette  

The fate of medical-aid-in-dying bill that cleared the General Assembly in June is uncertain as it has yet to be delivered to Gov. John Carney to sign.

Sponsor of the bill, Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, said July 15, the bill still resides in the House.

“Thus far, the governor has not led me to believe that he will sign the bill when it makes it to his desk,” Baumbach said.

Baumbach did not say when he plans to deliver the bill to the governor, or whether he has heard if Carney will veto it.

Alex Schadenberg: Contact Delaware Governor John Carney to Veto Assisted Suicide Bill HB 140

Alex Schadenberg:

"Everyone needs to contact Governor John Carney [pictured left] and urge him to veto assisted suicide Bill HB 140. Call Governor Carney at: 302-744-4101 or email him at: john.carney@delaware.gov"

A news story by Sarah Mueller for whyy news stated:

Democratic Rep. Paul Baumbach, the prime sponsor, said the bill has not yet been sent to the governor. A spokesperson for the governor said lawyers were reviewing the legislation. Requests to clarify their answers received no response.

What Happened to HB 140?

Original publication 07/03/24, by Alex Schadenberg.

Everyone needs to contact Governor John Carney [pictured here] and urge him to veto assisted suicide Bill HB 140. Email him at john.carney@delaware.gov

A news story by Sarah Mueller for whyy news stated:

Democratic Rep. Paul Baumbach, the prime sponsor, said the bill has not yet been sent to the governor. A spokesperson for the governor said lawyers were reviewing the legislation. Requests to clarify their answers received no response.