STAND. COM. REP. 207

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 917

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 917 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PALLIATIVE CARE AND PAIN MANAGEMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that all residents of Hawaii have access to quality palliative care and pain management (PCAPM) by:

(1) Protecting a licensed health care professional from disciplinary action or criminal prosecution for prescribing, dispensing, or administering medical treatment for the therapeutic purpose of relieving pain;

(2) Creating an advisory commission on Hawaii palliative care and pain management to:

(A) Identifying strengths, weaknesses, and disparity in palliative care and pain management training and care provided in Hawaii; and

(B) Develop guidelines to establish recommended parameters for PCAPM;

and

(3) Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds to the Executive Office on Aging to fund this project.

Hospice Hawaii, the Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care, Heathcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Nurses Association, and two individuals testified in support of this bill.

The Executive Office on Aging and the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians supported the intent of this bill.

Palliative care is a relatively new concept in medicine and involves the total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. It involves managing pain and relieving distressing symptoms, including physical, psycho-social, emotional, and existential. Your Committees believe that this bill will improve the end-of-life care for many Hawaii residents.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 917 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health,

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair

____________________________

MICHAEL PUAMAMO KAHIKINA, Chair