Singapore legislation
Clause 5
Clause 5
Treatment for sexual sterilization
(1)
Notwithstanding the provisions of any written law, but subject to the provisions of this section, it shall be lawful for a registered medical practitioner, acting on the authorisation of the Board, to carry out treatment for sexual sterilization.
(2)
The Board may authorise treatment for sexual sterilization on any applicant of twenty-one years of age, or over, if —
such applicant applies to the Board in writing requesting treatment for sexual sterilization and giving consent to such treatment;
such request is accompanied by a consent in writing of the wife or husband, if there is one, of the applicant; and
such applicant is the father or mother, as the case may be, of three or more existing children.
(3)
The Board may authorise treatment for sexual sterilization of a person under the age of twenty-one years if —
the parent or parents, if they are living, or the guardian of such person, if there is no parent living, applies in writing to the Board requesting such treatment and certifies consent to such treatment;
such person is afflicted with any hereditary form of illness that is recurrent, mental deficiency or epilepsy; and
the Board considers that the treatment is in the best interest of such person and of society generally.
(4)
The Board shall not authorise treatment for sexual sterilization to be carried out unless a period of thirty days has elapsed from the date of the request in writing to the Board by the applicant for such treatment; and the applicant may at any time during that period and before the treatment is carried out withdraw his request for, or consent to, such treatment.
(5)
At the time the request in writing is made by the applicant to the Board, and before the period of thirty days has begun to run, the Board shall interview the applicant and give to the applicant a full and reasonable medical explanation as to the meaning and consequences of such treatment and the applicant shall certify to the Board, in such form as the Board may decide, that he clearly understands the meaning and consequences of such treatment.