By Mustafa Shafawi, 938 LIVE |
Posted: 12 February 2010 1423 hrs
SINGAPORE: A senior legal service officer,
Daniel Koh, has been appointed as Public Guardian under The Mental
Capacity Act.
The Act will come into force next month.
Mr Koh's main role is to protect the interests of persons who lack
mental capacity due to conditions such as dementia, and investigate
allegations of ill-treatment or abuse of this vulnerable
group.
There will be a Code of Practice that guides proxy decision-makers,
family members and caregivers in their roles and responsibilities
within the framework of the Act.
Singaporeans who wish to plan ahead to ensure that decisions
relating to their personal and financial well-being can be made in
their best interest by their appointed trusted persons, can do so
through a new legal document called the Lasting Power of Attorney
(LPA).
The LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public
Guardian.
From next month, the Office of the Public Guardian will start to
work with Voluntary Welfare Organisations to take in applications
of those who have been waiting to register their LPAs.
It will accept applications directly from members of the public
from June.
- CNA/yb