HB2491

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2491
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT RELATING TO DEATH WITH DIGNITY.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, to allow terminally ill people who request it to obtain a prescription for lethal drugs and to allow people to request in advance the administration of death with dignity in the event of their suffering from a terminal illness.

The legislature finds that people are now enjoying longer, healthier lives than at any other time in history. Diseases that kill suddenly and prematurely have been virtually wiped out in developed countries. Ninety percent of the people who die each year are victims of prolonged illnesses or have experienced a predictable and steady decline. In May of 1998, the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel on Living and Dying with Dignity concluded that "Our respect for individuals' rights of self-determination brings us to the view that requests for assistance in dying should be taken seriously . We have concluded that individuals who have no compunction regarding physician-assisted dying should be allowed to follow the dictates of their own conscience." People with terminal illnesses need to have options when reviewing end of life choices. This measure would allow terminally ill people to determine the time and place of their death.

SECTION 2. Article I of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended by adding a new section to be designated and to read as follows:

"DEATH WITH DIGNITY

Section 24. The legislature shall have the power to allow terminally ill adult patients to obtain physician's prescriptions for drugs to end life."

SECTION 3. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

"Shall the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to establish the right that will allow terminally ill adult patients voluntary informed choice to obtain a physician's prescription for drugs to end life?"

SECTION 4. New constitutional material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________