Delaware Governor John Carney vetoed medical aid in dying bill, disregarding 72% of voters’ support and sparking sharp criticism from advocates.
Late Friday afternoon, Delaware Governor John Carney vetoed the Ron Silverio/Heather Block Delaware End of Life Options Act after it passed through the Legislature in the waning days of the 2024 session. Lead sponsor Rep. Paul Baumbach called Carney’s veto “heartless.”
Despite 72% support for medical aid in dying across Delaware, Carney ignored the will of the people when making this decision at the very last second. Carney’s reasons for vetoing the law were suspect. While Carney relied on the ancient and often disavowed position of the American Medical Association as cover, that’s not where his real opposition comes from.
In his veto statement, Carney said, ”I am fundamentally and morally opposed to state law enabling someone, even under tragic and painful circumstances, to take their own life.”
In a WHYY PBS Interview, legislative champion Rep. Baumbach went on to say, “I think he’s ill-informed and ill-advised, and I think he made a decision that is going to be harming people who least deserve it, those who are dying.”
“I think it’s heartless. It’s unfortunately not a surprise. We’ve seen the governor disregard the vast majority of Delawareans multiple times, but I thought there was more humanity in him, and I was wrong.”
This is the second time in consecutive years a governor has placed their personal beliefs over the rights of dying patients and blatantly dishonored the voice of the citizens in their states. Last May, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed the Nevada End of Life Options Act, despite support of over 80% from Nevadans. Partisan politics aside, it is simply wrong to take away the freedom of a dying person to make their own end-of-life decisions.
As our movement continues to grow in support for medical aid in dying and more legislative chambers pass Death with Dignity laws, states like Nevada and Delaware provide unique challenges under divided and often highly partisan governments. At Death with Dignity, we’ll continue to fight alongside residents of Nevada and Delaware to pass legislation again, and with your help, hold accountable those politicians who choose their own religious beliefs and disregard the overwhelming support of their constituents.
We cannot allow Governor Carney’s actions to go unanswered. He has placed his own religious beliefs above the rights of the people he was elected to serve, and has shamelessly ignored overwhelming support for Death with Dignity from his constituents. If you are as disappointed as we are in Governor Carney’s veto, let him know how you feel by writing him an email today.