UPDATE: Delaware Senate Passes Bill To Provide End of Life Options to Terminally Ill Patients
April 18, 2025/
UPDATE 04/18/25: Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend and Representative Eric Morrison, legislation providing end-of-life options to terminally ill patients has passed the Senate and will now move to Governor Meyer’s desk for signature. House Bill 140 would provide mentally capable adults in Delaware that have received a prognosis of six months or less to live, the choice to end their life through self-administered medication. The measure narrowly passed in the State Senate with an 11 to 8 vote with 2 absent.
Original Post:
Legislation that would provide end of life options to terminally ill patients has passed the Delaware House with a 21 to 17 vote with 3 absent. Specifically, the bill would allow mentally capable, adult residents of Delaware who are terminally ill, having received a prognosis of six months or left to live, to request and obtain medication they can self-ingest to bring a peaceful end to their suffering, if they so choose. House Bill 140 is sponsored by Representative Eric Morrison and Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend. Under HB 140, advanced age, disability, mental illness, and chronic health conditions would not be qualifying factors for medical aid in dying. Currently, medical aid in dying is legal in 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. HB 140 now heads to the Senate.