Our Care, Our Choice Act presentations available
Compassion &Choices Hawaii will present a series of free presentations this month in Kona, Waimea and Hilo to help communities and health care professionals understand and prepare for implementation of the Our Care, Our Choice Act.
The Our Care, Our Choice Act authorizes medical aid in dying. The law allows eligible terminally ill, mentally capable adults with six months or less to live the option to request a doctor’s prescription for medication that they could decide to take in their final days or weeks to end unbearable suffering and die peacefully. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.
Coordinated by the Hawaii County Office of Aging, Sens. Lorraine Inouye and Russell Ruderman, and Reps. Cindy Evans and Joy San Buenaventura, these important educational presentations are free and open to the public. Additional presentations are being held specifically for medical, health and human services professionals.
COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS
• “What is Hawaii’s Our Care, Our Choice Act?”
KONA: 10-11:30 a.m. Oct. 23, West Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway.
WAIMEA: 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Tutu’s House, 64-1032 Mamalahoa Highway, Suite 305, Kamuela.
• Medical, Health and Human Services professionals presentations will be 2:30-4 p.m. Oct. 22, also at the West Hawaii Civic Center Council Chambers.
Compassion &Choices will also provide brochures, factsheets, and other important resources. To register call the Office of Sen. Lorraine Inouye at 974-4000, ext. 67885. Admission is free.
Info: (800) 247-7421 or www.compassionandchoice.org/hawaii.