LPA and AMD

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and an Advance Medical Directive (AMD) are both legal documents for medical-related decision-making.

These documents come into effect should you lose the ability to make your own decisions, and can help ensure your wishes are respected in such situations.

What is an AMD?

Technological advancements mean that life can now be prolonged technically with medical interventions, even if nothing can be done to stop the dying process.  

Sometimes, terminally ill patients may want to be spared any further suffering that can come with such medical interventions, since these interventions will not be able to improve their medical condition. They may instead choose to withdraw such extraordinary life-sustaining treatment and pass away naturally in peace.

An AMD informs doctors treating you (in the event that you become terminally ill and unconscious or unable to make decisions) that you do not want any extraordinary life-sustaining treatment to be used to prolong your life.

An AMD has to be made through a doctor, and can be revoked at any time should you change your mind.

How do I make an AMD?

  1. Download the AMD Form here and fill it up.
  2. Visit your family doctor with a witness to get the form signed. The doctor will ensure you understand the implications of signing the AMD and are not being coerced to sign it.
  3. Submit the form to the Registrar of Advance Medical Directives at the Ministry of Health (by mail or by hand).
  4. The Registrar will send you an acknowledgement when the directive has been registered.

What is an LPA?

An LPA allows you to appoint one or more persons (Donees) to make decisions on your behalf if you should lose the mental capacity to make decisions one day. This way, you can have peace of mind that your affairs can be managed according to your wishes even if you are unable to make decisions anymore.

What can my Donee make decisions on?

  • You can choose what decision powers to grant your Donee:
    • Personal Welfare: decisions relating to healthcare, daily activities, and where you live
      and/or
    • Property & Affairs: decisions relating to financial matters (e.g. bank account/ property)
    • Customized: this will require a lawyer to draft the clauses and sign the LPA

Who can be my Donee?

  • You can select anyone you trust (aged 21 years and above) to be your Donee
  • You can select more than 1 Donee, and can decide how they will act:
    • Jointly: Donees have to act together, and not individually (joint appointment will be terminated when any donee is unable to act)
    • Jointly & Severally: Donees can make the decisions together or individually (one can act without the other)

How do I make an LPA?

  • Log onto the Office of the Public Guardian Online (OPGO) via Singpass to draft your LPA.
  • Visit a Certificate Issuer (CI) – Accredited Medical Practitioners or Practising Lawyers
    – The CI will discuss the key points of the LPA to you so that you understand what the document entails, and ensure that you are not being coerced into making an LPA.
    – The CI will then certify your LPA and submit it online via OPGO.
  • You will be notified once the digital LPA is accepted and registered.

Where can I make an LPA?

ClinicAccredited LPA Certificate IssuersContact the Clinic for an Appointment
North
AdmiraltyDr Laura Lim63141098
CanberraDr Laura Lim
Dr Amaris Lim
62665080
West
Bukit Batok (West Ridges)Dr Sandra Lim
Dr Amaris Lim
63370061
Bukit Batok (West Terra)Dr Amaris Lim62583036
Jurong WestDr Sean Quek
Dr Koh Tingyi
68622340
Family Medicine Clinic (Clementi)Dr Koh Tingyi67788362
East
GeylangDr Farah Syahera Binte Khairi67446336
Tampines Street 11Dr Low Jin Kheng65882149
Family Medicine Clinic (Macpherson)Dr John Soh69500592