Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Wednesday, February 28, 2018
HB2739: Hawaii Democrats Blind Suicide Leap
By Rep Andria Tupola @ 10:13 PM :: 11120 Views :: Democratic Party, Health Care, Life, Politicians, Republican Party

Rep. McDermott votes "no," chides committee for passing "Assisted Suicide" Bill without reading it first.

News Release from Rep Bob McDermott, February 28, 2018

Today's vote on HB2739, the so called "Death with Dignity" bill was passed by our State House Judicial Committee in spite of my no vote.

The way this bill was hustled through sight unseen is an example of the dysfunction of the legislature.

I was asked to vote on the important issue of assisted suicide without the opportunity to read or study the latest amendments that were slipped in overnight.  We were asked to vote without our members having seen a written draft of the revised bill.  I literally had nothing in front of me on which to vote.

How is anyone supposed to vote on such an important bill without reading it first?

Auwe!

  *   *   *   *   *

"Rep. Tupola's Statement on HB 2739, 'Our Care, Our Choice Act"

News Release from Rep Andria Tupola, February 28, 2018

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI – HB 2739 – Relating to Health, also known as the "Our Care, Our Choice Act" or the "Physician-Assisted Suicide" bill passed out of the joint committee of Health and Human Services and Judiciary with amendments. Representative Andria Tupola (District 43 – ʻEwa Villages, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Nanakai Gardens, Ko Olina, Kahe Point, Nānākuli, Lualualei, and Māʻili) voted “no” on the measure. All members of the committee voted “yes” on the bill, except Rep. Andria Tupola and Rep. Bob McDermott (District 40 – Ewa, Ewa Beach, Ewa Gentry, Iroquois Point).

"This is definitely a controversial bill and yet we were not provided with a copy of House Draft 1 or a list of amendments to the bill. Instead, the amendments were quickly read through and not repeated.  How can I vote on something that I was not able to read and see how the amendments change the overall bill?” said. Rep. Tupola.

"I appreciate the hard work that the introducer and the chairman of the Health and Human Services committee put into this bill, but I believe there is more to do to ensure the safety of our people.”

Rep. Tupola noted two significant weaknesses of HB 2739:

  • The language on criminal penalties lacks significant safeguards against malpractice or abuse as suggested by the Attorney General. The words “in good faith” do not establish a clear objective standard for liability.
  • The bill fails to ensure the proper disposal of unused life-ending medication. Adding a penalty for the failure to dispose of leftover medication properly would help to prevent unsuspecting victims from ingesting lethal drugs. The lack of enforcement will make the State morally responsible for any tragic consequences.

"We weren't ready for this legislation last year, and I wasn’t given a draft to read the most current version this year," said Rep. Tupola. "Although HB 2739 is purported to be the strongest legislation for physician-assisted suicide, we should be careful to guard against elder abuse and be mindful of the opioid crisis sweeping our country.  We shouldn’t be voting on any bills that we haven’t fully read, especially when dealing with public safety,” Rep. Tupola concluded.

# # #

House Democrats: HOUSE COMMITTEES PASS 'OUR CARE, OUR CHOICE' BILL WITH 'RIGOROUS SAFEGUARDS'

Compassion & Choices: HAWAI‘I HOUSE HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES AND JUDICIARY COMMITTEES APPROVE MEDICAL AID-IN-DYING BILL

PDF: Floor Amendments Proposed by Rep Andria Tupola March 1, 2018

HB2739: Text, Status

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT