Delaware aid-in-dying bill reintroduced

A bill that gives end-of-life options to terminally ill patients was introduced June 30, the last day of the legislative session, and will be waiting for action in January when the General Assembly reconvenes.

House Bill 140 would allow a mentally sound adult working with a physician or registered nurse to request and self-administer medication to end the adult’s life. Sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, the bill is the latest of several attempts he has made to pass the end-of-life option since 2015.

His Death with Dignity bill never made it out of committee in 2015; his End of Life Options Act in 2017 never made it to the House floor. 

“This legislation will offer terminally ill Delawareans peace of mind and greater autonomy over their end-of-life journey,” said Baumbach. “Experience shows that, for most terminally ill patients, just knowing they have the option of medical aid in dying is a great comfort, whether they choose to act on that option or not. Many terminally ill Delawareans want and need this option today, and the vast majority of Delawareans support medical aid in dying.”

The latest bill has nine co-sponsors in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly, which passed bills this session that raised the state’s minimum wage, levied restrictions on guns and ammunition, and instituted criminal justice reform.

The end-of-life bill is also known as The Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Law in memory of Ron Silverio and Heather Block, passionate advocates who passed away without this option becoming available to them.

Heather Block was a Lewes resident who died in 2018 from terminal breast cancer.

Kim Callinan, president and chief executive officer of Compassion & Choices, worked with Block, lobbying legislators and the governor to pass the End of Life Options Act. Now, she said, 72 percent of Delaware voters support end-of-life legislation.

“After Heather’s cancer progressed into her brain and spinal fluid, I promised her that we would continue our advocacy so that others would not spend their final days needlessly worrying as she did. Lawmakers can honor her selfless advocacy – and prevent other terminally ill Delawareans from suffering – by passing this compassionate legislation that now bears her name, as well as the name of another advocate for the bill until his death, Ron Silverio.”

In other legislative business:

Bill shortens school board term

A bill that would shorten a school board term passed the General Assembly and now awaits Gov. John Carney’s signature.

House Bill 92 would shorten school board members’ terms from five years to four. The bill passed the Senate June 22 by a 12-9 vote; it passed the House June 10 by a 23-18 vote.

Background check for school board candidates moves forward

A bill that would require school board candidates to undergo a background check has moved through the General Assembly.

Senate Bill 78 would also allow a board to suspend a member if they are charged with a crime that could disqualify them from holding the position if convicted.

The bill passed the House June 24 by a 37-1 vote with two not voting and one absent; it passed the Senate May 13 by a 20-1 vote. It now awaits Carney’s signature to become law.