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Delaware lawmakers will once again consider legalizing physician-assisted suicide after outgoing Gov. John Carney vetoed a similar bill last year.

State Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, and Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, are sponsoring the new legislation.

Morrison said he has advocated for allowing physician-assisted suicide for many years, first as an activist outside of government and then as a state legislator. He said his support of the concept comes from caring for his mother before her death about five years ago.

“We lost my mother to lung cancer, and over a six-month period, I watched her die an absolutely agonizing death,” he said. “Not only did she lose her physical health, but she completely lost her mind.”

Morrison’s bill and former Rep. Paul Baumbach’s one from last year, the Ron Silverio/Heather Block Delaware End of Life Options Act, have similar language. Baumbach’s bill was named for two advocates who died in 2018.

The legislation would allow people with fewer than six months to live to request and ingest medication to end their lives. It provides safeguards including requiring two doctors to certify the patient is mentally fit, making an informed decision and acting voluntarily.

In a news release, Townsend said he supports a compassionate option for terminally-ill Delawareans who are “needlessly suffering.”

“Respecting people’s personal liberties and choices means honoring the right of adults to make informed decisions about their own bodies,” he said in a statement, “including the choice to seek compassionate care when facing a terminal illness that causes unbearable and irreversible suffering.”

DELAWARE. – The public education system in Delaware has been at the forefront for several years. Local non-profit organizations hope to address issues that plagued the system in 2025.

One local group, First State Educate, plans to rework many areas for the state. Executive Director Julia Keleher insists the mission is simple. “We’re empowering the community and building systems and processes where they can stand up and solve their problems. We’re just facilitating success.”

There are many areas of improvement in school districts, one being the disparity in local funding. Keleher believes this has caused a strain in the community.

“There’s local property assessment, so there’s local revenue, and that’s when the disparity comes in. That’s based on property value, and in more affluent areas, you’re going to get more revenue, and you create this have and have not system.”

She offers her solution to the problem; “We want high-quality public education. Inevitably, there will be tough conversations about what needs to be defunded or reallocated to increase spending. Especially if you don’t increase taxes to get more revenue, but nobody likes that conversation.”

These problems have caused a teacher shortage in Delaware. First State Educate will collaborate with local school districts to help with procedures.

“For districts willing and interested in working on policies related to teacher recruitment, the conditions of teaching and learning, and compensation.”

Keleher believes Delaware has a ton of potential. Groups like FSE and Rodel can change the state for the better.

“It’s manageable, there’s a million people, there’s three counties. There are around 145,000 public school students. There’s 202 schools, and approximately 45 of those are charter schools.”

Despite the detection of avian influenza in Sussex County snow geese and Kent County broiler chickens, the Delaware Department of Agriculture says you can continue filling your bird feeders – unless you also keep chickens or live near some.

Anyone who owns poultry, including backyard flocks, should remove their birdhouses, feeders and baths, Delaware Department of Agriculture spokesperson Stacey Hofmann said. People who live near poultry should do the same to reduce the risk of the virus spreading from wild to domesticated birds.

The general public, however, can continue using bird feeders, Hofmann said. Delaware bird feeders typically attract cardinals, chickadees, titmice and other songbirds, while bird flu is usually found in waterfowl, raptors and vultures.

The department’s advice comes after the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was found in sick and dead snow geese at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge last week, marking the first detection of H5N1 on Delmarva since May 2022. On Thursday, the department announced presumptive positive testing in a Kent County poultry flock.

How to prevent the spread

Regardless of the prevalence of bird flu, backyard birders can prevent the spread of all bird illnesses by following a few simple steps, according to various agencies.

• Clean bird feeders once a month with a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach. For wooden bird feeders, use regular soap or a solution of three parts water to one part vinegar.
• Change bird bath water every two or three days.
• Never touch wild birds and always wash your hands after handling bird feeders and baths.

If you find a dead bird, wear gloves, a mask and safety glasses to handle it, the Delaware Department of Agriculture recommends. Double-bag the bird and secure the bags with a zip tie before putting it in a trash can.

Background: Delaware officials urge vigilance as bird flu detected in Kent County poultry

If you see a sick or dead bird, call the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, report sick and dead birds here.

What to know about bird flu

Avian influenza is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads quickly among birds through nasal and eye secretions and manure, Hofmann said.

The virus also has been detected in U.S. mammals, including foxes, wild and domestic cats, bears, seals, dolphins and cattle, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture – but not in Delaware specifically.

Bird flu has occasionally infected humans, but continuous testing of people in close contact with infected animals indicates humans are at a low risk of contracting it, Hofmann said.

Sussex: What is the Fourth Street Forest in Lewes and why is a nonprofit trying to preserve it?

Since April 2024, there have been a total of 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Delaware, one person has tested positive this year, with the source of exposure unknown.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.