2025 Delaware Code
Title 16 - Health and Safety
Chapter 25C. End of Life Options [For application of this chapter, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 19, § 3]
§ 2501C. Purpose and intent [For application of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 19, § 3].

Universal Citation:
16 DE Code § 2501C (2025)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
§ 2501C. Purpose and intent [For application of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 19, § 3].

(a) A terminally-ill-adult individual who has decision-making capacity has the right to request and self-administer medication to end their life in a humane and dignified manner.

(b) An individual should not be coerced, pressured, or otherwise compelled to take medication to end their life and the decision to self-administer medication to end life must be made voluntarily by a terminally-ill-adult individual with decision-making capacity, not by a guardian or other surrogate health-care decision maker or by the individual in an advance health-care directive.

(c) Health-care providers should not be subject to civil or criminal liability or professional discipline for honoring a request from a terminally-ill-adult individual for medication to end their life in a humane and dignified manner that is made in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

(d) The self-administration of medication to end life in a humane and dignified manner by a terminally-ill-adult should not impact life insurance or annuity policies.

85 Del. Laws, c. 19, § 1; 
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