Efforts continue
Mahalo to Stephen Gross for his July 4 letter (“A victory for choice”) regarding Hawaii’s new medical aid in dying law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2019.
After a 20-year fight, the members of Hawaii Citizens for End of Life Choices were instrumental in finally getting the “Our Care, Our Choice Act” passed this year.
Mr. Gross makes an excellent point — that while medical aid in dying is now the law of the land, we consumers of medical care cannot rest on our laurels. Whether you have a terminal illness or not, now is the time to speak to your doctor about your own end-of-life wishes, and ask whether they would be ready to support you if medical aid in dying is an option you want to consider.
Compassion & Choices Hawaii, another group that worked toward passing the law, is now seeking volunteers on each island to help with its statewide “access campaign.” This campaign will educate communities, doctors, health care systems and hospices about the medical practice and the law to ensure Hawaii residents who want to use medical aid in dying will have access to this compassionate end-of-life care option.
Patient resources and other great information, including a fact sheet on “How to Talk to Your Doctor about Medical Aid in Dying,” is available at www.compassionandchoices.org/hawaii.
If you would like information about volunteer opportunities, or to request a presentation to your organization, email hawaii@compassionandchoices.org or call 1-800-247-7421.
Aubrey Hawk
Volcano
Great feature
My name is Chris Macres. Lindsey Poulsen was my cousin.
I just wanted to say thank you to Bart Wright for writing what can only be described as one of the greatest articles I’ve ever read (June 25, Tribune-Herald). In a time where words have been difficult, you hit the nail right on the head. Just wanted to say thank you.
Chris Macres
El Dorado, Calif.