Following on from our post on CPF nomination, we provide coverage on 2 more legal documents available in Singapore to plan for our loved ones.
In summary, these 2 legal documents take into effect if,
AMD – Our health goes into a critical stage (Terminal illness or Unconscious)
LPA – We lose our mental capacity
Advanced Medical Directive (AMD)
In the streets, there are people that lament our legal system for its rigidness. While the general law does not allow Euthanisa like in the Netherlands, we are given the choice to choose to end our life in the face of a terminal illness diagnosis.
AMD is a legal document to inform the doctor treating that you do not want to prolong your life with any extraordinary life-sustaining treatment in the event of the following condition:
- Terminally ill
- Unconscious
How to make an AMD
- Obtain an AMD form
- Physical form also available in Medical Clinics, Polyclinics and Hospitals
- Physical form also available in Medical Clinics, Polyclinics and Hospitals
- Consult a Doctor together with a Witness
- Doctor’s responsibility to determine that:
- You are not being forced into making the AMD.
- You are not mentally disordered.
- You understand the nature and implications of making an AMD.
- Witnesses (2 required)
- One will be the Doctor
- The other can be the Doctor’s Nurse or any adult, age of 21 years old or above.
- AMD will be void if the witness is a family member or has demised
- Return the Completed Form to The Registrar of AMD
- Either by mail or by hand
- Must be returned in a Sealed Envelope
- Registrar of Advance Medical Directives at Ministry of Health, Singapore, College of Medicine Building, 16 College Road, Singapore 169854
- You will receive an Acknowledgement when the AMD have be registered with The Registrar of AMD
- Doctor’s responsibility to determine that:
AMD is a free legal document. You may check out on other forms and guidelines on AMD here.
The Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
LPA will come in place when we lose our mental capacity to make decisions. The power will be granted to our donee to make decisions on our behalf.
Our Donee can be entrusted to make decisions in these 2 broad areas
- Personal Welfare: our daily activities and place of living etc.. and/or
- Property & Affairs: our financial matters e.g funds in bank accounts and property
Singaporeans enjoy fee waiver until 31 March 2023 for LPA Form 1 submission.
What is the difference between an LPA Form 1 and LPA Form 2?
- LPA Form 1 – Standard version to grant donees general powers with basic restrictions.
- LPA Form 2 – Use to grant donees with customised powers. The Annex to Section 4 the LPA Form 2 has to be drafted by a lawyer (Must be a Singapore Solicitor qualified to practice Law in Singapore).
Head to MSF website to find out in details about LPA | msg.gov.sg
(Infographic: Ministry of Social and Family Development)
We are a strong advocate of pre-planning, where we plan ahead for our departure from life. By early planning, we take responsibility for our life. Family will not have to face the stress of deciding on our behalf.
In our blog posts so far, we have covered on CPF nomination, Advanced Medical Directive and Lasting Power of Attorney. Stay tuned in the next months as we cover on other planning available in Singapore!
References:
https://www.moh.gov.sg/policies-and-legislation/advance-medical-directive
https://www.moh.gov.sg/hpp/all-healthcare-professionals/guidelines/GuidelineDetails/advance-medical-directive
https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/advance-medical-directives-in-singapore
https://www.msf.gov.sg/opg/Pages/The-LPA-The-Lasting-Power-of-Attorney.aspx
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