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Hawai’i

CURRENT STATUS: ENACTED

About

Hawai’i’s Our Care, Our Choice Act passed in 2018. 

Resources

Our Partner: Hawai’i Death with Dignity Society

Timeline of Death with Dignity in Hawai’i

2023

2023

In January, SB899 and HB650 are introduced by Hawai’i lawmakers and are assigned to their respective committees. Both bills increase access to the Death with Dignity Act.

2021

2021

Lawmakers introduce SB839, a bill seeking to remove certain barriers to access

The amendment would reduce the waiting period from 20 days to 15 and authorize attending providers to waive the 15-day period if a patient is imminently dying. Further, it would have permitted advance-practice nurses and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to participate in the patient qualification process. 

Hawai’i’s unique geography and limited number of physicians have proven to be a barrier for patient access. The bill moved successfully through the Senate and then stalled.

2019

2019

Hawai’i is the 7th U.S. jurisdiction to enact a Death with Dignity statute. The Our Care, Our Choice Act goes into effect on January 1.

2018

2018

Our Care Our Choice Act passes in Hawai’i