Singapore and Euthanasia

Singapore allows passive euthanasia (if the patient signs the Advance Medical Directive (AMD). The patient's decision in the AMD overrules EVERYTHING else, including his or her family's decisions.

If the patient did not sign the AMD and is legally unable (e.g. he's in a comma state and does not have the ability to think rationally or make his own decisions), his family/spouse/relative etc will make the decision for him.

Singapore is explicitly against active euthanasia. laws and regulations include the AMD (which reportedly took 8 years to pass due to ethical concerns) and the penal code (which deems active euthanasia as murder or assisted suicide)

we do not agree with Singapore's position, since active euthanasia should be allowed as an option in the AMD as well. There may be cases where the patient is suffering and wishes for a quick and painless death, and his quick death may allow his organs to be harvested, thereby saving other lives. Active euthanasia may therefore be respectful of the patient's wishes and may be for the greater good. In some cases, when patients have to wait for their death to come, their whole world is changed, and redefined. some of them with physical deformities may be looked at differently, some of them will not be able to interact with their family members, or carry out their daily routines. this to the patients, will become painful as life can slowly become meaningless. As such, active euthanasia can be a quick way to end their pain, and their family members' pain, who have to watch them suffer and go through this tiring process.

If active euthanasia is not allowed in Singapore due to ethical concerns and potential loopholes in such laws, then one should also consider how facilities, or institutions can be made more available for patients undergoing passive euthanasia, to allow them to have their last few days in peace and reserve their last bits of dignity.

posted by 09S06H, wenyu, tu guang, jasmine, amanda