December, 2019
After 25-years of hard work by many individuals and organizations, our Hawai`i Death With Dignity bill was passed in 2018 and was activated on January 1, 2019. The Hawai‘i State Department of Health worked diligently to prepare healthcare providers for the prompt implementation of the “Our Care, Our Choice Act.” We worked in close collaboration with many state-wide community partners to ensure the smooth implementation of our new law (Act 002 of 2018). The state applications forms and other related information are available at the Hawai‘i Department of Health HERE.
FOR IMMEDIATE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCESSING THE PROGRAM CONTACT:
Aubrey Hawk
(808) 351-5800
WHAT’S NEXT FOR US?
First and foremost, we are the live, understanding voice on the phone when people who have been diagnosed terminal call while searching for accurate, candid information about hospice, Advance Directives and for professional guidance and assistance. We offer no medical advice.
In 2017, our organization was recognized “for outstanding service to the community in its efforts to educate the community on Medical Aid in Dying legislation and in offering advice to those who are confronted with the pain and turmoil of a terminal diagnosis.” See the media release with photos HERE.
Scott Foster & Marsha Joyner of the Hawai`i Death With Dignity Society were among the honored Guests At The Signing of Act 002
The decades-long effort to legalize medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults in Hawaii ended on Thursday, April 5th, 2018, when Hawaii Governor David Ige signed our bill; Act 002. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser wrote, “Under the law, mentally competent adult residents, who have been given six months or less to live, will be able to request life-ending prescriptions to be self-administered. ‘Our state has been contemplating this law for more than 20 years,’ Ige told a standing-room-only crowd of supporters gathered in his offices to witness the bill signing. ‘It is time for terminally ill, mentally competent Hawaii residents who are suffering to make their own end-of-life choices with dignity, grace and peace,” Ige said. “We know that our loved ones will eventually die, but they don’t need to suffer.’” Read the complete Associated Press (AP) story HERE
Read the complete 2018 bill history and full text HERE. For other media stories and the latest updates, please like and visit our Facebook page.
For those who have been with us from day one, perhaps visit our In Remembrance Page HERE which honors the people who laid the groundwork for our bill finally passing.
Please continue to support us financially as you can. Since 2002, our work to pass a Death With Dignity law in Hawai`i has been supported by the generous assistance of the Death With Dignity National Center (DDNC) in Portland Oregon. If you’re in a position to send a donation of any amount, please consider helping to fund our work. Either use the “Donate” button at the right on our Web site (or below if viewing on a SmartPhone) or you may snail mail your check to our national partnering organization. ALL OF YOUR DONATION SUPPORTS OUR WORK HERE IN HAWAII.
The Death With Dignity National Center
520 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1220
Portland, Oregon 97204
Mahalo! for your dedication and support during the past 16 years. Regards – Scott Foster
Navigating The Journey is a live weekly broadcast with host Marsha Joyner that explores the options and choices of end-of-life issues from religious, cultural, medical and legal perspectives. The shows are archived for later viewing on YouTube. With your financial support, our show will continue to educate the public about end of life issues and encourage people to talk about their wishes regarding death and dying with their friends and family while they are still able to do so.
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