Medically assisted suicide passsed by Hawaii lawmakers

HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers have approved medically assisted suicide.

The state Senate passed the measure Thursday that has already cleared the House. The legislation allows doctors to fulfill requests from terminally ill patients for prescription medication that will allow them to die.

The governor has said he will sign the measure.

Hawaii would be the latest liberal-leaning state to allow the practice once the bill becomes law. It’s already legal in California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, Washington state and Washington, D.C.

Lawmakers have heard hours of impassioned testimony from advocates and opponents during the legislative session.

The bill includes safeguards intended to prevent abuse, including criminal penalties for anyone who tampers with or coerces a prescription request.

But opponents say it puts the poor, elderly, sick and disabled at risk.