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Leaders of the state House and Senate say they want to discuss a bill that legalizes euthanasia, or physician-assisted death. Few lawmakers want
another look at
legalizing euthanasiaBy Pat Omandam
Star-BulletinBut first they must persuade their committee chairmen to call public hearings for the controversial proposal.
It's been two years since the Legislature seriously studied legalization of physician-assisted suicide and physician-assisted death. The 1999 Legislature heard several measures, then held them after strong opposition from the medical and religious communities, as well as other groups.
Only one bill has been introduced on the subject this session, and Senate Health and Human Services Chairman David Matsuura (D, South Hilo-Puna) said he would not hear it.
Kelly M. Rosati, executive director of Hawaii Family Forum, said, "I think the widespread continued opposition from the medical community, from the disability rights community, from groups like ours, sort of convinced a lot of legislators that this is not an issue that's likely to take up a lot of time this year."
In May 1998, a state blue-ribbon panel on living and dying with dignity recommended the state take action on six areas that affect most of the 8,000 deaths that occur in Hawaii each year.
Those areas include spiritual counseling for those with life-threatening illnesses; education programs to increase the choices available to the dying; the use of advance directives, such as living wills; increased and better hospice care; and effective pain management.
The governor-appointed panel also agreed involuntary euthanasia should continue to be a crime but were deeply split over physician-assisted dying.
Proponents feel individuals, especially those with terminal illnesses, should be free to choose if they want to end their suffering and decide when they want to die. Opponents say the terminally ill have options and legalization of euthanasia is dangerous, especially to the ill, poor and disabled.
Nationwide, only Oregon permits physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill, under limited conditions, but the debate continues across the country.
House Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo) introduced an euthanasia bill last year, but the House majority did not give it a hearing and representatives stayed away from the issue this session.
Nevertheless, Say, who favors the legalization of physician-assisted death, welcomes another discussion if the issue crosses over from the Senate.
Last week, Senate President Robert Bunda (D, Wahiawa-North Shore) introduced a proposal that lets patients with irremediable conditions choose a "painless inducement of death." If passed, the measure would strike the state law that bans mercy killings or euthanasia and replaces it with a new chapter on death with dignity.
Senate Bill 709 allows those suffering from an incurable, painful, serious physical illness or impairment to sign a declaration that allows doctors to perform euthanasia at a time set by the individual.
Bunda said he's introduced similar bills in past years on behalf of people who wish to "pass on peacefully without any intrusion."
"I've done this for the last four or five years, and its gotten nowhere," Bunda said. "I would be surprised if they put it on the table."
Errol J. Christian, program director of the Hawaii Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii, said he doesn't see a real push for any kind of euthanasia legislation this year. The church strongly opposes euthanasia because it is contrary to its belief about the dignity of human life.
"I think the general feeling is there needs to be more emphasis placed on end-of-life care, rather than jumping into physician-assisted suicide," Christian said.
Hawaii Right to Life Executive Director John Long added there's been a significant change in the makeup of the Legislature from two years ago. He alluded to the ability of House Republicans to pull bills out of committees and put them up for discussion and a vote on the House floor. "Sometimes people don't want to be seen having to actually cast a vote to put old people to death, especially when they've got some elderly parents themselves," Long said.
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