Singapore legislation

Section 18

of Vulnerable Adults Act 2018

Section 18

Administering medical or dental treatment to vulnerable adult

Amended by30/2019

(1)

The Director‑General or a protector may require a vulnerable adult to be produced before a registered medical practitioner or registered dentist for any necessary medical or dental treatment, as the case may be —

(a)

before or during the vulnerable adult’s period of committal in a place of temporary care and protection or under the care of a fit person (as the case may be) under section 11(1)(a); and

(b)

during the vulnerable adult’s period of committal in a place of temporary care and protection or place of safety, or under the care of a fit person (as the case may be) if the vulnerable adult is the subject of an order of court under section 14(1)(a) or (b).

Amended by30/2019

(2)

Any treatment mentioned in subsection (1) may be administered to the vulnerable adult concerned only with the vulnerable adult’s consent unless —

(a)

the vulnerable adult is assessed by a mental capacity assessor to lack the mental capacity to consent, and the registered medical practitioner or registered dentist reasonably believes that it is in the vulnerable adult’s best interests to receive the treatment; or

(b)

it is not practicable to obtain consent from the vulnerable adult, and the registered medical practitioner or registered dentist —

(i)

reasonably believes that a medical or dental emergency (as the case may be) exists; and

(ii)

is of the view that it is in the vulnerable adult’s best interests to receive the treatment.

(3)

If a donee or deputy has been appointed for the vulnerable adult mentioned in subsection (2)(a), a registered medical practitioner or registered dentist may administer the medical or dental treatment (as the case may be) to the vulnerable adult under that subsection without the consent of the vulnerable adult’s donee or deputy (as the case may be) if the registered medical practitioner or registered dentist is of the view —

(a)

that the consent cannot be obtained within a reasonable time; or

(b)

that the consent is being unreasonably withheld by the donee or deputy.

(4)

Subsection (3) applies whether the donee or deputy is appointed before, on or after 19 December 2018.

Read in full context — Vulnerable Adults Act 2018 →