Senate Committee on Health (HTH) - chair: Josh Green, vice chair: Rosalyn H. Baker

Monday, January 28, 2013, 1"15 P.M. Conference Room 229

Testifier: Joy A. Marshall, RN, LWV Legislative Committee member

Click here to view SB655

My name is Joy Marshall, I am a registered nurse and an active member of the League of Women Voters of Honolulu. The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supports SB655. Our position is clear - all persons must have unimpeded access to quality health care. This bill does something we have needed for a long time in our islands. By making treatment accessible to the partners of persons infected with Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, health care professionals can provide prompt treatment for partners who contract infections that may be life threatening or cause serious conditions. For decades the Federal Centers for Disease has recommended such expedited treatment for partners. Beginning in the 1970’s it become an accepted standard of care in public health clinics to treat the patient who is infected while seeking out his or her partner for treatment. Chair Green, Vice-Chair Baker and Committee members, this is the 21st Century. It is in the State’s public health interest that all health care providers in Hawaii (both public and private) have the option to treat partners of infected persons without the unfair consequences of criminal liability, legal liability or disciplinary action for providing such treatment. This bill offers appropriate precaution guidelines. I ask you continue to pass this bill and support accessible health care for all. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony.