STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1579_______

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.R. No. 14
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred H.R. No. 14 entitled: 

     "HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING COUNSELORS, CLERGY OF ALL
     RELIGIONS, FAITH HEALERS, AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO
     INTEGRATE SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL COUNSELING SERVICES INTO
     THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to urge counselors, clergy
of all religions, faith healers, and health care professionals to
integrate spiritual and cultural counseling services into the
health care system, particularly for individuals who are
afflicted with life-threatening illness.

     More specifically, the resolution urges that spiritual
counseling be made available to, and that sensitivity be shown to
the personal and spiritual preferences of, individuals in health
care facilities, and that counselors, clergy of all religions,
faith healers, and health care professionals be trained to help
people deal with end of life issues.

     The resolution also urges counselors, clergy of all
religions, faith healers, and health care professionals to
present honest and clear options to patients who face the end of

 
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                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1579_______
                                 Page 2

 
their lives and to encourage family conversations about death and
dying before serious illness strikes.

     The Hawaii Catholic Conference, the Hawaii Medical
Association, the Hawaii Nurses' Association, and the Chairperson
of the Christian Science Committee on Publication in Hawaii
submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee acknowledges the critical difference that
spiritual and cultural counseling can make both to the patient
and the patient's family.  Your Committee finds that encouraging
open and balanced communication about the issues of death and
dying with a counselor or selected clergy and among family
members would enhance health care services and bring comfort to a
critically ill person and the person's family.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose
of H.R. No. 14 and recommends its adoption.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Consumer
                                   Protection and Commerce,



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair

 
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