Del. Senate sends End-of-Life bill to Gov. Carney

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Senate has sent end-of-life options legislation to Governor John Carney.

House Bill 140, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach and Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, would make Delaware the 12th jurisdiction in the U.S. to grant certain terminally ill patients a right to legally obtain medications from their physician to be used in determining the timing of their own passing.

If signed into law, Delaware’s medical-aid-in-dying law would only be available to adult state residents diagnosed with an incurable and irreversible disease, illness, or condition who has been given a prognosis of six months or less to live by at least two medical professionals. Advanced age, disability, mental illness, or chronic health conditions would not be qualifying factors for eligibility in this program.

A terminally ill patient would be required to demonstrate an ability to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of their decision, including through the determination of a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist.

More on the bill can be found here.