A bill allowing doctor-assisted suicide in Delaware won final passage in the state Senate on Tuesday after failing to clear that chamber last week.
The measure, which now goes to Democratic Gov. John Carney, passed on an 11-10 vote after the Democrat-led Senate voted by that same margin to reconsider the legislation and rescind last week’s vote.
Sen. Kyra Hoffner, a Smyrna-area Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill, cast the deciding vote. On Thursday, after some fellow Democrats spoke passionately against the bill, she tearfully declined to vote on it.
“I’m sorry that I did not vote Thursday like I wanted to,” Hoffner said Tuesday, adding that she had time to reflect over the weekend and talk to both supporters and opponents of the bill. “It has been a very emotional weekend for me.”
Lawmakers continued to air strong sentiments for and against the bill during Tuesday’s debate.
“How more despicable can we become?” asked GOP Sen. David Lawson, of Marydel.
