Weekly Recap From Hawaii Family Forum, February 2, 2018

Assisted Suicide to be Fast-tracked?

Three suicide bills that were introduced this session by House members have been assigned to a JOINT committee hearing of the Health & Judiciary committees.  That means that House leadership only wants ONE HEARING in the House for these bills.  We will keep you posted if any of the bills are scheduled for hearing.  (The names listed are the legislators who introduced the measure.)

HB2218 | RELATING TO VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING.

Introduced by: EVANS, CREAGAN, DECOITE, ITO, KEOHOKALOLE, LOWEN, MCKELVEY, MIZUNO, NAKAMURA, OHNO, SAIKI, SOUKI, TAKUMI, THIELEN, Morikawa, San Buenaventura

Establishes the right of certain terminally ill adults to request and access the process of voluntary assisted dying through self-administration or physician administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance. Effective 7/1/2019.  (Pending joint hearing of HHS/JUD)

HB2736 | RELATING TO HEALTH.

Introduced by: Mizuno

Establishes a regulatory process under which an adult resident of the State with a medically confirmed terminal disease and less than three months to live may choose to obtain a prescription for medication to end the patient's life. Imposes criminal sanctions for tampering with a patient's request for a prescription or coercing a patient to request a prescription. Sunsets on June 30, 2023.  (Pending joint hearing of HHS/JUD)

HB2739 | RELATING TO HEALTH.

Introduced by: BELATTI, HASHEM, LOWEN, LUKE, MORIKAWA, NISHIMOTO, SAIKI, TAKAYAMA, TODD

Establishes a regulatory process under which an adult resident of the State with a medically confirmed terminal disease and less than six months to live may choose to obtain a prescription for medication to end the patient's life. Imposes criminal sanctions for tampering with a patient's request for a prescription or coercing a patient to request a prescription. (Pending joint hearing of HHS/JUD)

SB2727  |  RELATED TO HEALTH

Introduced by: RUDERMAN, INOUYE, K. RHOADS, Dela Cruz, Galuteria, Nishihara

Establishes a medical aid in dying act that establishes a regulatory process under which an adult resident of the State with a medically confirmed terminal disease may obtain a prescription for medication to be self-administered to end the patient's life.  (Pending hearing by Senate CPH)

ACTION:  We have reason to believe that HB2739 will be the vehicle to move, but we should be prepared for any of these to be put on a schedule for hearing. Please sign our online petition to (1) decrease suicides in Hawaii by 25% and (2) oppose establishing assisted suicide. Supporters will claim that 70% of the population in Hawaii wants assisted suicide.  This is your opportunity to say that YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THEM.

Over 13 thousand signatures against assisted suicide were collected last year.  Let's get even more this year.

Take Action!

Sign & Promote Anti-Suicide Petition

Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act Opposed by Hirono & Schatz

This week the U.S. Senate failed to pass S. 2311, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, by a vote of 51-46. This bill would have ended elective abortions after 20 weeks.  Unsurprisingly, both Hawaii Senators (Hirono and Schatz) were NAY votes.

Read Statement by President Trump on its failure.

What's Coming Up?

Before you file your taxes...

There's still time to sign up for the free workshop on how the new tax laws.   will affect you.  Click here to sign up and for more information.

Weekly Triple "F" Podcast

Interview with Kelly Rosati, Part Two

This episode highlights efforts of Hawaii Family Forum respective to the protection of young females from sexual exploitation and the establishment of the Families for Waiting Keiki project.