Saying the right thing, doing the right thing ‘Difficult’ decisions in healthcare are not always technically difficult, although sometimes they are. They are difficult as personal, family, and professional experiences. It is hard to face a life-threatening diagnosis, a painful … Continue reading
The cost of healthcare may be an important concern for patients and families when they make treatment decisions. Because patient and family decisions about whether to begin and when to end treatment may be influenced by the cost of care, … Continue reading
Between 2016 and 2030, Singapore’s population aged 65 years and over is expected to increase from about 12% to about 20% by 2030. Population ageing is driven by a combination of increase in life expectancy and a rapid decline in … Continue reading
What is the supreme law of Singapore? The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, so that any law that is inconsistent with any of its provisions shall be void. It also vests judicial power in the Supreme Court, … Continue reading
Healthcare professionals should have a working knowledge of relevant law and policy concerning their own areas of practice, and also concerning medical decision-making, which encompasses the rights of patients and other decision makers. This backgrounder provides a brief overview of … Continue reading
Advance directives Advance directives are instruments that offer safeguards for the treatment and care preferences of patients, by providing guidance to decision-makers should a patient lose decision-making capacity. In Singapore, they may take the form of a legally recognised document, … Continue reading
