Bill > SB107

This bill modifies Hawaii's medical informed consent law by requiring the Hawaii Medical Board to establish mandatory standards for health care providers to ensure patients receive comprehensive information before medical treatments or procedures. Specifically, the bill changes the board's role from optional to mandatory in creating guidelines for obtaining informed consent, and introduces a new requirement that informed consent must be obtained before the date of a medical procedure, with a special provision for same-day procedures where consent can be obtained at the time of scheduling. The bill mandates that providers must give patients detailed information about their medical condition, the proposed treatment, potential alternative treatments, risks of complications or mortality, and potential benefits of alternative treatments. The legislation also clarifies that emergency treatments are exempt from these consent requirements and defines a "legal surrogate" as an agent designated in a power of attorney for healthcare or selected in accordance with existing state law. The changes aim to enhance patient understanding and autonomy in medical decision-making by ensuring more thorough and timely information is provided before medical interventions.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=107&year=2026