A year after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law, lawmakers in Hawaii plan to examine the issue once again.
The proposal to allow competent, terminally ill adults obtain a lethal dose of medication to end their lives will be heard by the House Health Committee. Just as with past proposals, the bill specifically prohibits mercy killings, lethal injections and active euthanasia, and requires
patients to provide informed consent.
House Bill 675 initially was referred only to the Judiciary Committee. Health Chairman Dr. Josh Green (D, Keauhou-Honokohau) said he met with Democratic leadership this week and was successful in getting the bill steered to his committee first.
