Delaware Governor Vetoes Assisted Suicide Legalization

Suprise! Governor John Carney has vetoed legislation that barely passed in Delaware that would have legalized assisted suicide. From the Governor’s veto message:

During my time as Governor, and since this legislation was first introduced, I have consistently opposed a state law that would allow physician-assisted suicide. I have always recognized, and do today, that this is a deeply personal issue. Supporters and opponents alike have thoughtful views on the subject, in many cases informed by their own painful, personal experiences.

Over the past several years, I have listened to legislators, advocates, and constituents who have reached out to me and my team to share their views. I also followed the action of the Delaware General Assembly, where this legislation passed by just one vote in the House and the Senate. I appreciate the thoughtful consideration of the legislation, and I recognize that the bill’s sponsors made compromises in an attempt to limit abuse and protect vulnerable patients.

I still don’t believe a firm consensus has been reached on what is a very difficult issue — in Delaware or nationally. Last year, the American Medical Association reaffirmed its view that physician-assisted suicide is “fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer.” And although I understand not everyone shares my views, I am fundamentally and morally opposed to state law enabling someone, even under tragic and painful circumstances, to take their own life.

A few thoughts:

1. That’s two governor vetoes in a row against legalizing assisted suicide. This is the first Democratic governor to issue a veto. The other was by the Republican governor of Nevada, Joe Lombardo.
2. You wouldn’t know it from the biased pro-assisted suicide reporting in the media, but opposing assisted suicide is bipartisan. A plurality of elected Democrats oppose legalization — demonstrated by very blue states such as New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, where repeated energetic attempts to legalize have been met with failure. (Support is also bipartisan, although to a far lesser degree.)
3. Opposition to assisted suicide is also culturally and religiously diverse. Opponents include pro-lifers and the pope, to be sure. But also witness the zealous opposition by the disability-rights community, whose members are generally secular in outlook, not pro-life on abortion, and in accord with many LGBT agendas. Notable atheists have opposed legalization also, including the late, great civil libertarian Nat Hentoff, who saw legalization as a denial of human equality.
4. Doctors’ resistance to legalization of assisted suicide still matters. The AMA’s continued opposition is especially important in this regard. Medical associations should thus resist the constant pressure brought by assisted suicide to engage in a policy of “studied neutrality” (whatever that means).
5. For the moment, the assisted-suicide movement is stalled in the U.S. It will be back, for sure. But the longer the euthanasia movement continues to be held at bay, the more likely that America can avoid becoming a culture of death like that in Canada.

So Bravo Governor Carney! You have done the vulnerable in your state — and those threatened by what bioethicist Charles Camosy calls “throwaway culture” generally — a great service.