Kim Callinan, President and CEO of Compassion and Choices couldn’t have said it better.  Here, in part, is her Legislative Update for June 27, 2024 regarding DELAWARE:

All eyes are on Delaware right now, hoping it will soon become the 12th jurisdiction to authorize medical aid in dying. The story of Delaware’s advancement of medical aid in dying is similar to that of other authorized states. Years — in the case of Delaware, a full decade — of defeats have been met with resilience and resolve demonstrated by Compassion & Choices and the Compassion & Choices Action Network, our bill sponsor Representative Paul Baumbach, terminally ill advocates and their families, and our amazing supporters, all of whom refused to accept defeat.

This year, our perseverance resulted in considerable progress!

In April, the House passed the End of Life Option Act (HB140) in a bipartisan 21-16 vote. The Senate proved much more challenging: Last Thursday, it failed to pass when the bill came up for a vote. Many assumed the bill was dead for the session; however, our bill sponsor, terminally ill advocates, supporters, partners and Compassion & Choices Action Network staff refused to give up!

It was a long four days, but after strategizing with the bill sponsors, extensive organizing and campaigning, and a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears, on Tuesday, June 25, we secured the needed votes and passed the Ron Silverio/Heather Block Delaware End of Life Options Act (HB140) in the Senate!

HB140 is now headed to Gov. Carney’s desk for him to decide whether to sign the bill, let it become law or veto it. While it’s unclear where the governor stands on medical aid in dying, what is clear is that our efforts will continue, as:

Vision plus action eventually equals change:

We are changing the world.