Proposed Testimony for SB839 - Amendments to OCOCA: Medical Aid in Dying

Written Testimony Presented Before the

Senate Committee on Health

Hearing: February 10, 2021, 1:00 PM

Via Videoconference

By Hawaiʻi – American Nurses Association (Hawaii-ANA)

Chair Jarrett Keohokalole, Vice Chair Rosalyn H. Baker, and members of the Senate Committee on Health, thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony in support of SB839. 

This bill seeks to explicitly recognize advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) as attending providers and consulting providers capable of performing all necessary duties under the Our Care, Our Choice Act in accordance with their scope of practice and prescribing authority.  This bill also seeks to reduce the mandatory waiting period between oral requests made by a terminally ill individual from twenty to fifteen days, and to allow an attending provider to waive the waiting period for terminally ill individuals not expected to survive the mandatory waiting period. 

We are members of the American Nurses Association of Registered Nurses in Hawaii.  Over 17,000 Registered Nurses in Hawaii care for patients every day, throughout the lifespan, from birth through dying and death.  We have supported the passing of bills to enact this measure in the past, in our interest to provide choices and options to patients addressing end-of-life issues.  We continue to support the Act as an option for both patients and providers, to consider in meeting the personal needs of the individual patient. 

We believe the recommendations made by the State of Hawaii Department of Health to the terms of this Act address the very real difficulties individuals in Hawaii are experiencing in meeting the established criteria and safeguards to ensure a secure, compassionate, and patient-centered end-of-life process. 

Hawaiʻi-ANA respectfully requests that SB839 pass out of this committee.  Thank you for your continued support for measures that address the healthcare needs of our community.