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New advances in medical knowledge and technology create new choices for both patients and health care givers. Some of these choices raise new problems of ethics and law.
One problem is that modern medical technology can technically prolong life in the final stages of a terminal illness. When a person enters into the final stages of a terminal illness, medical technology can never arrest the dying process. In such situations where further medical intervention would be medically futile, a decision has to be made for the withdrawal of such futile medical intervention. Some terminally ill persons who are unable to express their wishes at that time, may want to be spared further suffering and be allowed to die naturally, in peace and with dignity.
The law in Singapore allows Singaporeans who wish to make an advance medical directive (AMD) to do so. The AMD Act was passed in Parliament in May 1996.
The Handbook for Medical and Healthcare Professionals can be downloaded here.
Click here for Doctor's checklist on AMD procedures.
The relevant AMD forms can be downloaded from the table below:
Type | Title | Download Form |
Form 1 | Making Of Advance Medical Directive | |
Form 3 | Notice Of Revocation Of Advance Medical Directive | |
Form 5 | Certification Of Terminal Illness And Request For Search Of The Advance Medical Directive Register | |
Form 7 | Certification Of Terminal Illness By Two Other Medical Practitioners | |
Form 8 | Certification Of Terminal Illness By A Committee Of Three Specialists Appointed By The Director Of Medical Services | |
Form 9 | Record Of Decision Of The Committee Of Three Specialists Appointed By The Director of Medical Services | |
Form 10 | Objection To Acting On Advance |
