STAND. COM. REP. NO. 56-06
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2006
RE: H.B. No. 3126
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2006
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 3126 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RAPID IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to improve care for terminally-ill patients who desire "comfort care" or non-resuscitative care from emergency medical services and first responders by:
(1) Removing the requirement that a physician certify in a written "comfort care only" document that the terminally-ill patient is under the physician's care;
(2) Allowing a lawfully-appointed guardian, agent, or surrogate of the terminally-ill patient to act on the patient's behalf when directing medical staff to provide only "comfort care"; and
(3) Removing the requirement that the terminally-ill patient have a rapid identification document in the form of an identifying bracelet or necklace.
The Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, North Hawaii Hospice, St. Francis Hospice, Kokua Mau, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health, Hawaiian Islands Hospice Organization, and Hospice Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3126 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
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