HB 550 Summary: Death with Dignity

• Establishes the Hawaii Death with Dignity Act, allowing competent, terminally ill Hawaii residents to request and self-administer life-ending medication prescribed by physicians.

• Requires a terminal disease diagnosis (incurable, irreversible, expected to cause death within six months) confirmed by both an attending physician and consulting physician before a prescription can be written.

• Mandates a 15-day waiting period between initial oral request and prescription, plus 48 hours between written request and prescription, with patient counseling for psychiatric or psychological disorders.

• Requires a written request witnessed by two individuals (one non-relative, non-beneficiary witness) and must be initiated by the patient; physician cannot prescribe based solely on age or disability.

• Protects participating physicians, health care providers, and patients from civil, criminal, and professional liability; allows health care facilities to prohibit the practice on their premises with advance notice.

• Effective January 1, 2018; amends insurance and controlled substances statutes to clarify that death under this chapter does not constitute suicide for insurance purposes and does not violate medical practice standards.