HAWAII
Assisted Suicide is Legal and Safeguards Reduced in 2023
2023—HB 650 (companion SB899) introduced—Expansion bill authorizes advanced practice registered nurses to participate; no physician needs to be one of the two authorizing providers. Allows licensed advanced practice registered nurses and clinical nurse specialists with psychiatric or mental health training and licensed marriage and family therapists to assess capacity of patients in addition to psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. Reduces the waiting period for lethal drugs from 20 to 5 days. Waives the waiting period for for patients not expected to survive the waiting period, and requires only one provider to make this difficult determination. Bill passed and governor signs June 2, 2023.
2021—SB 839 introduced—Expansion bill introduced to reduce waiting period from 20 to 15 days and make it possible to be waived if the patient is expected to die within 15 days. Would also allow nurse practitioners to participate and authorize mental health nurse practitioners and clinic nurse specialists to determine capacity in addition to psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. Passed Senate then stalled.
2018—”Our Care Our Choice Act” passes to legalize assisted suicide, and goes into effect January 1, 2019.
2007—Bentz_Letter to health care professionals in Hawaii against Assisted Suicide
