Our Care, Our Choice Act goes into effect

Starting today, the state Department of Health will provide medical aid in dying to patients who request it, and has launched a new page on its website where patients can make requests and learn more about the process.

The new page has all necessary forms for making end-of-life requests, as well as patient and provider resources and frequently asked questions.

In a news release, the DOH encouraged medical providers to familiarize themselves with the terms and requirements of the new law — called the Our Care, Our Choice Act — and for patients to understand their options.

Under the terms of the new law, terminally ill patients with six months or less to live can request access to a drug that will end their lives painlessly.

There are a host of requirements patients must fulfill to receive the drug, including diagnoses from two health care providers, two oral requests and one written request from the patient, and the patient must be mentally and physically capable of knowingly self-administering the drug.

The new webpage can be found at health.hawaii.gov/opppd/ococ.