A terminally ill Hawai`i man plans to appeal a ruling last night by a state court judge who dismissed his lawsuit that asserts the state constitution and existing state statutes allow doctors to practice medical aid in dying. Medical aid in dying gives mentally capable, terminally ill adults the option to get a doctor’s prescription for medication…

(HONOLULU) The House Health Committee today deferred SB 1129, Hawaii’s Medical Aid in Dying Act. Following is a statement from Mary Steiner, campaign manager, Compassion & Choices Hawai‘i: “We are deeply disappointed that the bill did not advance further today, but we remain confident that  the will of the people of Hawai‘i, who so strongly…

The Hawai‘i Medical Aid in Dying Act (SB 1129) has crossed over to the House of Representatives after the Senate voted 22-3 in favor of the bill. The House Health Committee has scheduled a hearing and needs to hear from you and your loved ones about why you support medical aid in dying. On Thursday,…

(HONOLULU – March 7, 2017)—In a full floor vote, the Hawai‘i Senate today voted 22 to 3 to approve  Senate Bill 1129, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, and refer it to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Medical aid in dying is an end-of-life medical practice in which a terminally ill, mentally capable…

(HONOLULU – February 28, 2017) Hawaii’s Medical Aid in Dying Act has cleared another hurdle as the Senate Judiciary & Labor Committee (JDL) voted to pass Senate Bill 1129 (Senate Draft 1) out of committee with amendments, following public decision-making on the bill. Medical aid in dying is an end-of-life medical practice in which a…

(HONOLULU – February 15, 2017) Compassion & Choices Hawai‘i today praised the Senate’s Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Committee for its vote (six ayes one excused) to pass medical aid-in-dying legislation (SB 1129) out of committee following a public hearing on the bill. Supporters crowded the room at the state Capitol to urge lawmakers to…

      This op-ed by David Shapiro was originally published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on February 12, 2017.  A friend bedridden by severe irreversible disease developed badly infected pressure sores. Facing prolonged hospital infection care that wouldn’t change the underlying disease that was rapidly progressing, she decided to go home and let sepsis take…

The movement for expanded end-of-life options, including medical aid in dying, is building momentum in Hawaii. In December, you contacted your lawmakers and tell them how important authorizing medical aid in dying in Hawaii was to you — and your voices were heard loud and clear at the capitol. In his Opening Day speech, House Speaker…

Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing and Compassion & Choices filed suit on Wednesday on behalf of a Hawai‘i resident with terminal cancer, John Radcliffe, and a physician asserting the Hawai‘i constitution and existing state law allow the practice of medical aid in dying. Medical aid in dying gives mentally competent, terminally ill adults the option…