End-of-Life Matters

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a national programme that aims to empower Singaporeans to choose how they would like to be cared for. It is the process of planning for one’s current and future healthcare. It helps individuals to communicate their values and how these values shape their healthcare preferences, to people important to them and their healthcare team. If the individual is no longer able to make decisions or speak for themselves, the ACP guides the decision-makers to act in their best interest.

Individuals are encouraged to participate in this programme at any stage of their lives. It is not only limited to those who are elderly or at the end of life .

Source: Source: Agency for Integrated Care website

The Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document, which allows a person who is at least 21 years of age (‘donor’), to voluntarily appoint one or more persons (‘donee(s)’) to make decisions and act on his/her behalf if he/she loses mental capacity one day. A donee can be appointed to act in the two broad areas of personal welfare, and property and affairs matters. The LPA is overseen by the Office of the Public Guardian under the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

Source: Ministry of Social and Family Development website

An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is a legal document that you sign in advance to inform the doctor treating you (in the event that you become terminally ill and unconscious) that you do not want any extraordinary life-sustaining treatment to be used to prolong your life. Making an AMD is a voluntary decision. It is entirely up to you whether you wish to make one. In fact, it is a criminal offence for any person to force you to make one against your will. The AMD is overseen by the Registrar of Advance Medical Directives under the Ministry of Health.

Source: Ministry of Health website

A Central Provident Fund (CPF) nomination provides CPF members with the option to specify who will receive their CPF savings, and how much each nominee should receive, upon their demise. You should make a CPF nomination if you want to distribute your CPF savings according to your wishes when you pass on. Without a nomination, your CPF savings will be distributed by the Public Trustee’s Office to the legally entitled beneficiaries (who are usually family members and next-of-kin) under the Intestate Succession Act or the Inheritance Certificate (for Muslims).

Source: Central Provident Fund website

Visit the Central Provident Fund website for more information, and to make a CPF nomination.

A will documents how your loved one would like to distribute their money and possessions (also called their estate) after they have passed on. Upon death, you and your family can apply to the Courts for a Grant of Probate to distribute the estate according to the will. If no will is made, the estate will be distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act or Inheritance Certificate (for Muslims).

For Muslims, the distribution of estate closely follows the Islamic Law on Inheritance, also known as Faraidh law. A will is prepared only to bequest up to 1/3 of your assets to anyone except your lawful heirs. The balance after the distribution of the Will should rightfully be distributed according to Faraidh law.

Source: Agency for Integrated Care website

The Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) allows for the kidneys, heart, liver and corneas to be removed, for transplantation, in the event of death from any cause.

HOTA covers all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents 21 years old and above, who do not have mental disorders unless they have opted out.

1 Human Organ Transplant Act

2 Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act (MTERA)

Complete the HOTA Opt Out Form and send it to the National Organ Transplant Unit.

Complete the Withdrawal of Objection Form and send it to the National Organ Transplant Unit. Do note that you will not receive priority should you require an organ transplant.

Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act (MTERA) is an opt-in scheme, where people can pledge their organs or any body parts for transplant, education or research, after they have passed away.

You can pledge your organs by completing the Organ Donation Pledge Form and sending it to the National Organ Transplant Unit.

We understand that when death happens, it can be emotional and difficult and you might be overwhelmed navigating through the plethora of administrative and legal matters.

Visit My Legacy website for the key steps when death happens.