Delaware Democrat refiles physician-assisted suicide bill, despite Democratic governor’s veto last session

With a new governor in office, Democrats in Delaware’s state Legislature are launching another push to legalize physician-assisted suicide.

State Rep. Eric Morrison is leading 19 Democrats in sponsoring House Bill 140, which would make Delaware the 11th state to legalize physician-assisted suicide.

The controversial measure passed Delaware’s House 21-16 and the Senate 11-10 last year, but the Democratic Legislature lacked the votes to override then-Democratic Gov. John Carney’s veto. 

“During my time as Governor, and since this legislation was first introduced, I have consistently opposed a state law that would allow physician-assisted suicide,” Carney, a Catholic, said in a press release accompanying his veto. “I have always recognized, and do today, that this is a deeply personal issue. Supporters and opponents alike have thoughtful views on the subject, in many cases, informed by their own painful, personal experiences. 

“I still don’t believe a firm consensus has been reached on what is a very difficult issue- in Delaware or nationally,” he added. “Last year, the American Medical Association reaffirmed its view that physician-assisted suicide is ‘fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer.’ And although I understand not everyone shares my views, I am fundamentally and morally opposed to state law enabling someone, even under tragic and painful circumstances, to take their own life.” 

However, the state’s governor-elect, Democrat Matt Meyer, supports physician-assisted suicide, so Morrison feels more confident the bill will become law. 

“This is one of the bills that I worked back then to help get passed, doing different things, writing editorials, talking to legislators – different things. So, I’ve actually been passionate about this bill since 2016,” Morrison said, according to Delaware Public Radio. 

“We feel very good about it,” he added. “We’ve done the work for years. Of course, the vast amount of that credit goes to Rep. Paul Baumbach, and we think that we will get it across the finish line this year through the House, through the Senate, and get it to the desk of a governor who will sign it.” 

In Canada, assisted suicide has become the fifth-leading cause of death, behind cancer, heart disease, coronavirus and accidents. Even previous supporters of the practice are alarmed by the ease suicides are approved in the country. 

Canada legalized assisted suicide in 2016. By 2022, assisted suicide deaths had risen from 1,018 in the first year to 13,241 annually.