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Advanced Medical Directive

An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is a legal document signed by a person in advance to indicate that he does not wish to have any extraordinary life-sustaining treatment to prolong his life in the event if he becomes terminally ill and unconscious. Current advances in medical technology allow a patient to technically prolong his life in the final stages of a terminal illness. However, further medical intervention under such circumstances would be medically unavailing and a decision has to be made for the withdrawal of such intervention.

In Singapore, the Parliament passed an AMD Act in May 1996 to allow Singaporeans who wish to make an AMD to do so. The law came into effect in July 1997.

Under the Act, an AMD can only be executed when a patient is certified with a terminal illness; needs extraordinary life-sustaining treatment; and is not capable of making rational judgment. After the AMD has taken effect, a patient with terminal illness will still receive palliative care and medication.

Anyone who is aged 21 years and above, and of a sound mind can make an AMD. Any person who wishes to make an AMD can do so by completing a prescribed AMD form, signed in the presence of two witnesses, and return it to the Registrar of AMD. The AMD form is available at private clinics or polyclinics. It is a voluntary decision and no one can make an AMD on behalf of another person.

An AMD can be revoked at any time in the presence of at least one witness. This can be done by either completing a standard form for revocation of an AMD or by writing to the Registrar of AMD.



Author
Joycelyn Hwang



References
Advance Medical Directive (AMD) comes into force today. (1997, July 1). The Straits Times, p. 26.

Advance Medical Directive: The facts. (2001, April 8). The Straits Times, p. 26. 

Houses passes Advance Medical Directive Bill. (1996, May 3). The Straits Times, p. 1.

Attorney-General's Chambers. (2003, October 15). Advanced Medical Directive Act (Cap.4A, 1997 Rev. ed.). Retrieved November 14, 2003, from statutes.agc.gov.sg/

Ministry of Health Singapore. (n.d.) Advance Medical Directive Act. Retrieved December 15, 2004, from
www.moh.gov.sg/corp/systems/acts/amd.do



The information this article is valid as at 2001 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Politics and Government>>Health
Health facilities--Law and legislation--Singapore
Law and government>>Health services



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