The Ron Silverio/Heather Block Delaware End of Life Options Act (HB140), permitting medical aid in dying in Delaware was introduced in the Delaware House of Representatives Tuesday by Rep. Paul Baumbach (D-District 23). The bill has support from every member of Democratic caucus leadership. Sponsoring senators and representatives include:
The bill is named in honor of two Delaware advocates for passing this legislation, Dover resident Ron Silverio and Lewes resident Heather Block, both of whom died in 2018 after extended needless suffering because they did not have the option of medical aid in dying.
“Physicians have a duty to relieve the suffering of patients with incurable, terminal diseases,” said Dover neurologist, Robert Varipapa, MD, voicing his opinion. “The reality is even the best hospice and palliative care cannot relieve suffering for every terminal patient. Medical aid in dying should be an end-of-life patient choice for terminally ill patients to peacefully end their suffering when there is no other viable option.”
Medical aid in dying has broad, bi-partisan support among Delaware voters. In a January-February 2020 survey by GBAO Research + Strategies, 72 percent of Delawareans surveyed said they support legislation that would allow medical aid in dying in the state. According to the survey, support for medical aid in dying in Delaware transcends demographic, geographic, and political lines that often separate First State voters. In addition, a survey conducted in June 2022 by NüPOINT Marketing found that nearly three in four (74%) Delaware physicians surveyed support medical-aid-in-dying legislation, and 70% said they would want the option for themselves, if necessary.
“This legislation offers qualified terminally ill Delawareans greater bodily autonomy during their end-of-life journey,” said Rep. Baumbach. “Knowing they have the option of medical aid in dying is a great comfort to many terminally ill patients, whether they choose to act on that option or not.”
“Unfortunately, Delawareans Ron Silverio and Heather Block died without the option of medical aid in dying, something they both desperately wanted,” said Kim Callinan, President & CEO of Compassion & Choices, which is leading a grassroots campaign to pass the Ron Silverio/Heather Block Delaware End of Life Options Act.
Medical aid in dying is legal in nine states: New Mexico, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, as well as Washington, D.C.
For more information about the 2020 Delaware medical-aid-in-dying survey, visit:
https://compassionandchoices.org/resource/delaware-polling-2020/
To see the results of the 2022 Physicians Poll, visit:
For background information and an FAQ about medical aid in dying, visit: https://compassionandchoices.org/resource/frequently-asked-questions/
Compassion & Choices
Media Contacts
Michael Cavaiola
National Director of Marketing & Communications
[email protected]
Phone: (480) 622 4427
Patricia A. González-Portillo
Senior National Latino Media Director
[email protected]
(323) 819 0310
Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750