GA will not override Carney’s veto of assisted suicide

Delaware House Speaker Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, announced  Friday that she will not convene a special session to try to override a veto of a bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in Delaware.

“While I remain fully supportive of House Bill 140 … the necessary votes for a veto override are not present in either the House or the Senate,” Longhurst said in a statement.

Gov. John Carney announced a week ago he would not sign the bill.

The bill, favored by many Democrats, will now die and must be introduced from scratch in January when the General Assembly meets again.

RELATED: Carney vetoes assisted suicide bill, Dems could try override

House Bill 140, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, allows a terminally ill adult resident of Delaware to request and self-administer medication to end the individual’s life in a humane and dignified manner.

Both the individual’s attending physician or advanced practice registered nurse and a consulting physician or nurse would have to agree on an individual’s diagnosis and prognosis and believe the individual has decision-making capacity, is making an informed decision, and is acting voluntarily. 

This method is often referred to as “assisted suicide” or “assisted dying.”

Baumbach, who announced he was not running for re-election this year, tried several times to get the bill passed before succeeding this year, despite vocal Republican opposition.

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Longhurst, who lost her own race in the primary election, said she’s optimistic that the 153rd General Assembly will be able to build on the progress made this year and ultimately see this policy become law in 2025.