STAND. COM. REP. 2787

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2088

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2088, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to delete the term "terminal condition" as the sole circumstance when "comfort care only-do not resuscitate" protocols may be initiated by the in-the-field emergency response personnel.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health and Compassion in Dying of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that it is important to respect and protect an individual's end of life decisions. Your Committee believes that this measure clarifies that it is an individual's decision whether resuscitation efforts should be done if his or her heart stops beating or he or she stops breathing.

Your Committee further notes concerns regarding the availability of comfort care only-do not resuscitate bracelets and necklaces. Testimony heard by your Committee indicates that receipt of bracelets and necklaces take approximately six weeks. Your Committee finds that six weeks is too long to wait for bracelets and necklaces and recommends the Department of Health look into securing suppliers that can provide them in a shorter amount of time.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2088, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair