STAND. COM. REP. NO. 294

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 516

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 516 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHYSICIAN ORDERS FOR LIFE SUSTAINING TREATMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify and standardize existing laws regarding end-of-life care and advanced directives to ensure that emergency services personnel and first responders can comply with the patient's wishes.

     Specifically, this measure seeks to use a standardized form called the "physician orders for life-sustaining treatment" form, to transform a person's advance directive into a medical order that would be accepted by all health care settings. 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Services, one organization, and four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.

     Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that emergency services personnel are mandated by law to attempt resuscitation unless the person has a state issued comfort care only, do not resuscitate bracelet or necklace.  However, these bracelets are only issued to individuals who have a terminal condition.  Many community members mistakenly believe that their advanced health care directive or living will is enough to prevent an unwanted attempt at resuscitation by emergency responders.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on this matter.

     Your Committee has further amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     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 S.B. No. 516, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 516, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair