Assisted Suicide Proponents want Hawaii to be a testing ground for Nurses!

From Hawaii Family Forum, January 29, 2020

The House Health Committee has scheduled a hearing on HB 2451 (Relating to Health) this Friday, January 31, at 11 a.m. in the Hawaii State Capitol, Conference Room #329. 

The bill proposes to eliminate some of the safeguards originally put in place to prevent abuse of the “Our Care, Our Choice” assisted suicide law in Hawaii:

It explicitly authorizes advanced practice registered nurses, in addition to physicians, to practice medical aid in dying in accordance with their scope of practice and prescribing authority.

It reduces the mandatory waiting period between oral requests made by a terminally ill individual from 20 days to 15 days.

And finally, it allows the attending provider to waive the waiting period for terminally ill individuals not expected to survive the mandatory waiting period.

What is the issue?

As many of you already know, the assisted suicide law has only been in effect for one year.  Proponents would like to modify the current law to “expand” access for patients, even though there is no data to support changing the law.  Proponents of assisted suicide are claiming that they are having a hard time finding physicians to help with approving these suicides.  In addition, pharmacists have not been eager to participate.  (Another legislative bill proposes to force them to do so.) 

To make it easier to find a death-doctor, proponents are advocating for APRNs to be given the authority to approve these suicides.  It is uncertain whether APRNs are willing to do this and what the outcome will be if there still is not enough medical professionals willing to participate. Will there be another bill next year adding another level of healthcare professionals?  Keep in mind there are no states that allow APRNs to practice medical aid in dying.  This is another attempt to make Hawaii a testing ground to see how far they can push the envelope.

Action Items:

If you are a medical professional, (especially an APRN), please submit testimony in opposition to the  bill and why you do not think it is a good idea to add APRNs to the list of those allowed to practice medical aid in dying.  NOTE:  If you are not a medical professional, please limit your opposition to the bill at hand.  It is important that legislators hear from the community, and we encourage you to raise your voice

HEARING DATE: Friday, January 31, 2020  | TIME: 11 am  | PLACE: Conference Room 329  (Click here to submit testimony online no later than 11 am on Thursday, 01/30/20)

Take a few moments to call the members of the House Health Committee and urge them to VOTE NO ON HB 2451 – the assisted suicide expansion bill.

HOUSE HEALTH

• Rep. John Mizuno, Chair   808-586-6050
• Rep. Bertrand Kobayashi, Vice Chair   808-586-6310
• Rep. Della Au Belatti   808-586-9425
• Rep. Nadine Nakamura   808-586-8435
• Rep. Joy San Buenaventura   808-586-6530
• Rep. Calvin Say   808-586-6900
• Rep. James Kunane Tokioka   808-586-6270
• Rep. Gene Ward   808-586-6420

Mahalo!

HB2451: Text, Status

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SA: Changes proposed for law on medical aid in dying