Hawaii

Overview

Hawaii's Our Care, Our Choice Act was signed by Governor David Ige on April 5, 2018 and took effect January 1, 2019. The law allows both physicians and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to participate, addressing Hawaii's physician shortage — particularly on neighbor islands.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a Hawaii resident
• Must be 18 or older
• Must have a terminal illness with a prognosis of 6 months or less
• Must have decision-making capacity
• Two oral requests at least 20 days apart
• One written request with two witnesses
• Two providers (physician or APRN) confirm eligibility
• Patient must complete a final informed consent form

Notable Features

• APRNs can serve as attending providers — important for island accessibility
• 20-day waiting period between oral requests (longer than most states)
• Telehealth consultations are permitted for the second provider assessment
• Hawaii Health Systems Corporation tracks annual data

Key Resources

• Hawaii Department of Health — health.hawaii.gov
• Kokua Mau — Hawaii's hospice and palliative care organization
• Compassion & Choices — compassionandchoices.org

Legal Contacts

• Hawaii Department of Health — Our Care, Our Choice Act — Official programme information, annual reports, and patient and provider forms. health.hawaii.gov (search "Our Care Our Choice")
• Compassion & Choices Hawaii — Provides patient advocacy, physician referrals, and support for Hawaii residents throughout the OCOCA process. compassionandchoices.org
• Death with Dignity National Center — Educational resources and legislative monitoring for Hawaii's law. deathwithdignity.org

Medical Contacts

• Hawaii Medical Association (HMA) — The professional body for Hawaii physicians; publishes guidance on OCOCA participation and conscientious objection.
• Compassion & Choices Physician Referral Service — Helps Hawaii patients find OCOCA-willing physicians, particularly on neighbour islands where access can be limited. compassionandchoices.org
• American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) — National resource for palliative medicine and MAID physician training. aahpm.org

Important: Contact details and eligibility requirements change. Always verify information directly with each organisation before taking any action.