Hospitals resist Our Care, Our Choice Act
Those seeking to access the Our Care, Our Choice Act still face barriers.
Enacted in 2019, the aid-in-dying law allows Hawaii residents 18 years old or older who are diagnosed with a terminal illness and have a prognosis of six months or less to live to obtain a fatal prescription after two separate verbal requests to a physician, a written request with two witnesses and a mental health evaluation to ensure they are capable of making medical decisions for themselves.
But a lack of providers willing to participate and policies implemented by island health care systems are hindering access to aid-in-dying.
