Compassion & Choices Survey
Statistics & Surveys
"Over this time I have come to very strongly believe that all persons should have the right to decide how and when to end their life when, in their judgement, the suffering becomes unbearable." - Dr. Charles Miller
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The non-profit organization Compassion and Choices conducted a survey of registered Hawai'i voters that showed 80% supported the concept of medical aid in dying. 12% are of the opinion that it should not be a legal option in Hawai'i. Eight percent remained unsure of their position in December 2016.
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Support on the neighbor Islands averaged at 62%, while on Oahu it is at 53%. Male voters were stronger advocates of the proposal than female voters. Those who identify as Democratic and Liberal were more likely to support this proposal. A majority of Catholics as well as Christians were also shown to support this proposal.
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The Bill Language
Organizations like Compassion and Choices disagree with the characterization of aid in dying to be equated with assisted suicide. Laws in the states of Oregon, Washington, Vermont and California emphasize that:
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"Actions taken in accordance with [the Act] shall not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing or homicide, under the law."
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The state of Oregon stopped using the term "physician-assisted suicide" in 2006. While the American Public Health Association, the nation's largest public health association, recognized the term was "inappropriate when discussing the choice of a medically competent, terminally ill patient to seek medications that he or she could consume to bring about a peaceful and dignified death."
The Differences between Assisted Suicide and Medical Aid in Dying
Organizations like Compassion and Choices disagree with the characterization of aid in dying to be equated with assisted suicide. Laws in the states of Oregon, Washington, Vermont and California emphasize that:
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"Actions taken in accordance with [the Act] shall not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing or homicide, under the law."
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The state of Oregon stopped using the term "physician-assisted suicide" in 2006. While the American Public Health Association, the nation's largest public health association, recognized the term was "inappropriate when discussing the choice of a medically competent, terminally ill patient to seek medications that he or she could consume to bring about a peaceful and dignified death."
In the state of Hawai'i, the debate over medical aid in dying has been argued at the State Legislature for over 20 years. This session both House Speaker Souki and Senator Rhoads introduced bills in an attempt to allow Hawai'i to join seven other states in legalizing medical aid in dying.
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While HB201 Relating to Aid in Dying only made it to First Reading, SB1129 continued its progress through session until reaching the House Committee.
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The bill "establishes a medical aid in dying act that establishes a regulatory process under which an adult resident of the State with a medically confirmed terminal disease may obtain a prescription for medication to be self-administered to end the patient's life."