STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1366

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 74
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.C.R. No. 74 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF LATEX PRODUCTS IN USE IN HAWAII
     IN HOSPITALS, CLINICS, AND MEDICAL FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of
Health to conduct a study of latex products in use in Hawaii in
hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Hawaii Medical Association and Allegiance Healthcare
Corporation.  Informational testimony was submitted by the
Department of Health (DOH) and Kaiser Permanente.

     There are a number of scientific reports pointing to
allergic reactions among medical and dental personnel who wear
latex gloves.  These reactions include a rash or contact
dermatitis, anaphylaxis, suffocation, and even death.
Individuals who commonly wear latex gloves include doctors,
dentists, nurses, dental assistants, and laboratory technicians.
Recent studies have claimed that as high as ten percent of health
care and medical professionals who wear latex gloves suffer from
allergic reaction.  This measure is intended to gather
information on the nature and extent of allergic reactions to
latex products in Hawaii, and to reduce the incidence of allergic
reactions.

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1366
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     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting the
title and contents and by:

     (1)  Requesting the health care industry of Hawaii, medical
          device manufacturing industry, and the DOH to encourage
          compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health
          Administration's bloodborne pathogen regulations
          regarding latex products, to establish clinically sound
          protocols and management strategies to address latex
          allergies, and to educate health care workers about
          latex allergies;

     (2)  Requesting the DOH to form a committee to advise and
          assist in the implementation of this measure;

     (3)  Specifying representation on the committee from the
          Hawaii Nurses Association, Hawaii Medical Association,
          Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Dental
          Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association,
          Federation of Physicians and Dentists, and fire and
          police departments of each county; and

     (4)  Clarifying the basis and scope of the latex problem.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
S.C.R. No. 74, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached
hereto as S.C.R. No. 74, S.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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