Delaware Democrat Sen. Kyra Hoffner made the difference for supporters of physician-assisted suicide, voting in favor of HB140 June 25 and enabling the senate to reverse itself from a vote the previous week.
In a political maneuver that enabled supporters to rescind the senate vote from last week that defeated the assisted suicide bill, the measure passed in a new vote with 11 Democrats voting in favor of it in the 21-member state senate. The proposed law goes next to the desk of Gov. John Carney, who has previously said he opposes the bill. Carney could sign it, veto it or let it become law without his signature.
“Our society accepts the premise that certain lives are not worth living,” said Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, who along with five other Republicans and four Democrats voted against the bill for the second time in a week. “Where does it end?”
Last week, the bill’s primary Democrat sponsor, majority leader Sen. Bryan Townsend, spoke in favor of the bill and voted for it, but changed his vote to “no” before the roll call was officially recorded. By voting with the majority in the narrowly defeated legislation, he preserved the ability to move to rescind the vote and call for another tally before the June 30 end of session.
Hoffner did not vote last week, helping to enable the bill’s defeat.
“I did not take this lightly,” Hoffner said during senate discussion. “I believe people should have a choice in their time of need. Doctors should be able to help in life and death.”
Hoffner described HB140 as “the hardest bill” she’s encountered. She did not reply to an email seeking comment on her decision.
One exchange among senators grew testy during the discussion. Sen. Dave Lawson spoke out in opposition.
“We say a prayer in here every day. We ask God to help us. But then we do the opposite of what he teaches. Either you believe in him or you don’t. Delaware has become the place to come to be killed. Is this a slippery slope? Yes. And we’re going to follow along.”
Several senators talked about personal experiences losing loved ones.
Sen. Stephanie Hansen spoke of her father’s battle with ALS before his death and she took issue with what she said was Lawson’s suggestion that her family did not believe in God.
“This is about writing how your final chapter is going to read under your own terms,” she said.
Sen. Bryant Richardson was among the Republicans voting no.
“I don’t understand the other side of this issue,” he said. “Some people have said they understand it. I don’t.”
“The primary duty of doctors is to preserve life and alleviate suffering,” Pettyjohn said. “No major medical organization supports assisted suicide. It would pose serious societal risks.”
Voting in favor of the physician-assisted suicide bill were Democrats Sarah McBride, Elizabeth Lockman, Laura Sturgeon, Kyle Evans Gay, Russell Huxtable, David Sokola,, Marie Pinkney, Trey Paradee, Hansen, Townsend and Hoffner.
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was among numerous organizations that opposed the bill, which was similar to one defeated earlier in the year in Maryland, where the diocese includes churches, schools and organizations along the Eastern Shore.
Bishop Koenig spoke out last week, wanting people in the diocese to know that life from birth until natural death is how we were meant to live and no law should allow people to take their own lives.
In a Jan. 2022 statement to The Dialog, Carney said the state should do everything it can to enable people with terminal illnesses to die peacefully.
“I know this is an extremely difficult and personal issue for many of my constituents, and I have sympathy and compassion for those who are grappling with these painful questions,” the governor said. “Ultimately, though, I believe enabling physicians to facilitate suicide crosses a boundary that I’m just not comfortable crossing.”
