Judiciary Committee recommends passage of Medical Aid in Dying bill

The state Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor unanimously recommended passing a “medical aid in dying act.”

If Senate Bill 1129 becomes law, it will let mentally capable, terminally ill adult residents get prescriptions to end their own lives.

Proponents testified it will let them take control of a dying process already underway. Opponents testified life is precious and should continue to a natural end.

Hawaii would be the seventh state to legalize such prescriptions. The other states with similar legislation are California, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and Montana.