Hello Mr Tan,
I noted that the government is trying to get Singaporeans to sign Advanced Medical Directive. From the insurer's point of view, is death via termination of life support system considered suicide?
TTY
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Dear TTY
NTUC Income does not treat AMD as "suicide".
We are guided by the following view stated in a FAQ from MOH website.
Does the AMD Act encourage euthanasia?
No, the AMD Act does NOT encourage euthanasia. On the contrary, the AMD Act is explicitly and categorically against euthanasia. The Act states in:
Section 17(1) - Nothing in the Act shall authorise an act that causes or accelerates death as distinct from an act that permits the dying process to take its natural course.
Section 17(2) - It is hereby declared that nothing in this Act shall condone, authorise or approve abetment of suicide, mercy killing or euthanasia.
A terminally ill patient CANNOT use the AMD to commit suicide, nor does the AMD allow doctors to abet in any suicidal attempt. This is punishable by law.
I just watched this very good programme in Taiwan (in Mandarin) which explains the pain and suffering that terminally ill patients go through if medical intervention (intubation, electric shock, CPR) is used to "save lives": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIAe0eDHi6w
ReplyDeleteThe part starting from 6:40 is especially shocking.
I think if people are aware of the excrutiating pain they are subjecting themselves/their loved ones to, they will want to sign the Advance Medical Directive.