Hawaii says no to pain.In a move that seemed to satisfy both the "assisted suicide assisted suicide: see euthanasia. " opponents and "death with dignity" proponents, Hawaii passed legislation this fall that focuses on people who suffer from chronic pain. The Pain Patient's Bill of Rights Patient's Bill of Rights, n.pr a list of the patient's rights promulgated by the American Hospital Association (AHA). It offers some guidance and protection to patients by stating the responsibilities that a hospital and its staff have toward patients and gives anyone tormented by severe acute or chronic pain the legal right to effective treatment, including opiates Opiates Analgesic, pain killing drugs, such as heroin and morphine that depress the central nervous system. Mentioned in: Withdrawal Syndromes if prescribed by a physician. "Hawaii, like other states, has wrestled for years with the frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: issue of the assisted suicide, death with dignity controversy," says Representative Cindy Evans. "That's why I decided to address one of the root causes." She drafted a law that provides a right of access to pain care. "Pain is one of the key factors that makes people consider ending their lives," she says. The new law allows doctors who do not prescribe opiates to refer patients to physicians who specialize in pain management. Hawaii's Board of Medical Examiners A public official charged with investigating all sudden, suspicious, unexplained, or unnatural deaths within the area of his or her appointed jurisdiction. A medical examiner differs from a Coroner in that a medical examiner is a physician. is to establish pain management guidelines. |
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