STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1580_______

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 11
                                     




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.C.R. No. 11 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT 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 concurrent 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 concurrent 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 concurrent 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. 1580_______
                                 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.C.R. No. 11 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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