Question: Under the aid-in-dying law, does “having six months to live” include the very old?
Answer: No. Only mentally capable Hawaii adults with a terminal disease would be granted a prescription to end their lives under the Our Care, Our Choice Act, which was signed into law Thursday and takes effect Jan. 1. The law specifies that old age doesn’t qualify.
To be precise: Section 1, Page 5, Lines 13-18 state, “Terminal disease means an incurable and irreversible disease that has been medically confirmed and will, within reasonable medical judgment, produce death within six months. Terminal disease does not include age or any physical disability or condition that is not likely to, by itself, cause death within six months.”
Q: Do you have to tell your family you are going to do this?
A: No, the law recommends but does not require family notification. The patient must fill out a form requesting the lethal prescription and another form within 48 hours of taking the fatal dose. The forms address this subject by asking the patient to check one of three answers: “I have informed my family of my decision and taken their opinions into consideration,” “I have decided not to inform my family of my decision” or, “I have no family to inform of my decision.”
Kokua Line has received several questions about medical aid in dying, many of which are answered in Hawaii’s law, which you can read at 808ne.ws/hiaid. Here are answers to three common questions:
>> Patients must give themselves the fatal dose; someone else cannot do it for them.
>> The law does not apply to terminally ill children.
>> Health care providers are not compelled to provide life-ending drugs.
Complete Streets outreach
Since Oahu adopted the Complete Streets ordinance in 2012, the city has changed how it builds streets, aspiring to comprehensive designs that take pedestrians, bicyclists and future rail transit passengers into account — not only the usual cars, trucks and buses. Projects following this “shared space” concept are coming to Kaneohe, Kailua and Pearl City. The city is putting on events to inform residents and get feedback.
Kokua Line often receives complaints after changes occur — for example, when crosswalks or parking spaces are removed or dedicated bike lanes are added. Here are ways for readers to find out what is going on:
Kaneohe
Walking tour: Today from 2 to 4 p.m., beginning at the multipurpose room of Kaneohe Community Park.
Community meeting: Today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Windward Community College, Akoakoa Building, Room 105.
Project areas: Kamehameha Highway from Likelike to Kahekili highways, Haiku Road and Kahuhipa Street between Kahekili and Kamehameha highways, and Kaneohe Bay Drive between Mokapu Saddle Road and Mokapu Boulevard. Keaahala Road between Kahekili and Kamehameha highways will also be studied, according to the city.
Kailua
Walking tour: Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. beginning at Kailua District Park’s community room.
Community meeting: Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kailua District Park’s community room.
Project areas: Kailua Road, Kalaheo Avenue, Kuulei Road, Mokulua Drive, Oneawa Street, Kihapai Street and Mokapu Road. Kainalu Drive and Maluniu Avenue will also be studied.
Pearl City
Walking tour: Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. beginning at Pearl City District Park’s multipurpose room.
Community meeting: Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Momilani Community Center.
Project areas: Waimano Home Road, and area network roadways including Noelani, Hoomalu and Hoolaulea streets, along with Moanalua Road, will also be studied.
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
