Letter: I’ll seek prescription, but I may not use it

Thank you for the article about the Hawaii Department of Health urging medical providers to prepare now for the Our Care Our Choice Act, which takes effect on Jan. 1 and gives eligible terminally ill adults like me the option of medical aid in dying (“State prepares for new medically assisted death law to take effect,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 17).

I was reported as saying that had the law been in effect when I was first diagnosed four years ago, I would have taken the medication then. That is most certainly not the case. Calling in the evening, on deadline and with questions about death, the reporter happened to catch me just after my 70th round of chemo.

What I intended to say is, had the law been available I would have used it if other solutions were not working. Clearly, they are. I’m grateful to Kaiser for keeping me alive. And I still intend to request a prescription when the law takes effect — whether I ultimately decide to take it or not.

John Radcliffe

Makiki

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