Delaware deserves aid-in-dying. Gov. Carney must sign legislation allowing it | Our view

A News Journal Editorial | USA TODAY Network Delaware Editorial Board
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Last week, after an emotionally charged debate, the Delaware state Senate, in an 11-10 vote, passed a bill that would give terminally ill Delawareans aid-in-dying options.

House Bill 140 — the Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Law — allows “mentally capable, terminally ill” adults who have received a “prognosis of six months or less to live” to request and obtain self-ingested medication to end their lives peacefully.  The House advanced this legislation in April.

Gov. John Carney should move swiftly to sign it.

Delaware should join the 11 other states and the District of Columbia in enacting this humane and thoughtful legislation.

A contentious debate

An exterior view of the Delaware Legislative Hall, the state capitol building, on March, 4 2024, in Dover.
An exterior view of the Delaware Legislative Hall, the state capitol building, on March, 4 2024, in Dover.

The state Srenate's vote, as staff writer Amanda Fries reported, came after a heated debate in which the ethical and moral implications of the legislation were argued. Some senators invoked their religious ideologies while others praised the legislation's humanity.

State Sen. Stephanie Hansen reminded her colleagues of her own father, who suffered from ALS for more than two years before his death. Hansen argued that he might well have wanted to consider end-of-life options.

"This bill is about taking control. Finally having the ability to take control over your own final chapter, writing how your final chapter is going to read under your own terms," Hansen said. "People like my father deserve that."

We agree, Senator.

And so does Delaware.

Delaware supports aid-in-dying legislation

Consider:

  • A 2020 poll found broad support for aid-in-life legislation in Delaware. Overall, 72% of Delaware voters, 77% of Wilmington voters, 70% of New Castle County voters, 71% of Kent County voters, 69% of Sussex County voters, 72% of Democratic voters, 75% of Independent voters and 67% of Republican voters, support medical aid-in-dying legislation.

  • The Delaware Nurses Association, Delaware Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Delaware Psychological Association all endorsed the legislation.

  • The Medical Society of Delaware has said it will work to train physicians about the practice of medical aid in dying if they want to offer it to terminally ill patients who request it.

End-of-life options can provide dignity, independence and choice to Delawareans facing the gravest health challenges.

If the governor is unable to sign the bill — which we believe he should — he should let allow it to become law without his signatue.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware aid-in-dying: Carney should sign the bill