Governor Matt Meyer signed Delaware's End-of-Life Options Act into law, allowing terminally ill adults to seek physician-assisted suicide beginning next year.

Delaware Becomes 11th State to Approve End-of-Life Law

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed a landmark bill into law Tuesday, officially legalizing physician-assisted suicide for eligible terminally ill adults. With this legislation, Delaware becomes the 11th U.S. state to authorize medical aid in dying, joining a growing list that includes California, Oregon, and Washington, among others.

Known as the End-of-Life Options Act, the law allows mentally competent adults who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six months or less to live to request and self-administer life-ending medication. The new policy is scheduled to take effect next year.

“We’re acknowledging today that even in the last moments of life, compassion matters,” said Governor Meyer during the bill signing ceremony. “Every Delawarean should have the right to face their final chapter with peace, dignity and control.”

The law includes safeguards such as two mandatory waiting periods, a second medical opinion to confirm the diagnosis and prognosis, and a requirement that patients be informed of alternative end-of-life care options. These include palliative care, pain management, hospice services, and other supportive treatments.

Balancing Autonomy, Compassion, and Regulation

Governor Meyer framed the new law as a victory for personal autonomy and compassion. “This signing today is about relieving suffering and giving families the comfort of knowing that their loved one was able to pass on their own terms, without unnecessary pain, and surrounded by the people they love most,” he stated. Meyer also emphasized that after years of debate, the passage of House Bill 140 reflects growing support for respecting end-of-life decisions.

The bill was sponsored by Democratic state Representative Eric Morrison and had previously failed to pass in the Delaware Legislature. After significant advocacy and narrow defeats in prior sessions, the measure was approved last month and received the governor’s signature, closing nearly a decade of public and legislative debate.

Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend praised the legislation, calling it “about honoring the autonomy and humanity of those facing unimaginable suffering from terminal illness.” He also recognized the contributions of patients, families, and advocates who shared personal testimonies in support of the bill.

The enactment of the End-of-Life Options Act places Delaware alongside other U.S. jurisdictions and countries—including Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands—that permit medically assisted dying. The law’s implementation is expected to be closely watched by medical professionals, patient rights advocates, and lawmakers in other states considering similar measures.

As Delaware prepares to roll out its new framework, health care providers and state agencies will begin crafting procedures to ensure compliance with the law’s conditions, safeguarding both patient rights and medical ethics in these deeply personal decisions.