http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2017/07/15/medical-aid-in-dying-dealt-another-blow-in-hawaii/
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| Doug Chin, Hawaii AG |
ARTICLE SUMMARY- They failed at the legislature this year, and now a court dismissed a lawsuit, but advocates have not given up.
(BIVN) – An Oahu circuit judge on Friday [07/14/17] dismissed a lawsuit asking the court to prevent existing Hawaii criminal laws from being applied to medical aid in dying [assisted suicide] practices.
In its decision, the court relied upon state legal precedent that prohibited it from issuing such relief, the state attorney general said in a media release. The attorney general opposed the suit, filing the successful motion to dismiss.
(BIVN) – An Oahu circuit judge on Friday [07/14/17] dismissed a lawsuit asking the court to prevent existing Hawaii criminal laws from being applied to medical aid in dying [assisted suicide] practices.
In its decision, the court relied upon state legal precedent that prohibited it from issuing such relief, the state attorney general said in a media release. The attorney general opposed the suit, filing the successful motion to dismiss.
The lawsuit seemed to hinge on what the legislature would decide on the divisive matter this year. The House ended up killing the bill after it passed through the senate. From the AG’s office:
Legislation was introduced this year to legalize medical aid in dying in Hawaii and establish a regulatory process under which an adult resident of the state with a medically confirmed terminal disease may obtain a prescription for medication to be self-administered to end the patient’s life. The bill was deferred on March 23, 2017. Noting that the legislation generated 2,613 pages of testimony and comments, the court said “this underscores that the relief sought by the plaintiffs is political, not judicial, in nature and should be addressed by the political branches of government.”To view the AG's News Release, with a copy of the court's decision attached, click here.