Termination of Pregnancy Regulations - Singapore Statutes Online

Termination of Pregnancy Act

(CHAPTER 324, Section 11)

Termination of Pregnancy Regulations

Rg 1

REVISED EDITION 1991

(25th March 1992)

[1st October 1987]

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Termination of Pregnancy Regulations.

Application for approval as an approved institution

2.—(1) An application to the Minister for the approval of any institution, hospital, maternity home, clinic or other place as an approved institution shall be in the Form I set out in the Schedule.

(2) The Minister may reject an application made under paragraph (1) without giving any reason.

(3) The Minister may cancel the status of an approved institution granted under paragraph (1) without giving any reason.

(4) Any approval for the use of any place as an approved institution shall, unless cancelled under paragraph (3), be for two years.

Authorised medical practioners

3.—(1) A medical practitioner who —

(a)	after being registered under the Medical Registration Act; and
(b)	has had 24 months experience or such period as the Minister may determine, in an obstetric and gynaecological unit of a hospital recognised by the Minister,

may apply to the Minister for an authorisation to carry out treatment to terminate any pregnancy which is of not more than 16 weeks duration.

(2) A medical practitioner who —

(a)	holds the degree of Master of Medicine (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) of the University of Singapore or the National University of Singapore; or
(b)	is a Member or Fellow of a Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists,

may apply to the Minister for an authorisation to carry out treatment to terminate any pregnancy which is of not more than 24 weeks duration.

(3) The authorisation of the Minister to carry out treatment to terminate any pregnancy may be subject to such conditions as he thinks fit.

(4) The Minister may revoke the authorisation given to a medical practitioner under this regulation without giving any reason.

(5) An application for authorisation to carry out treatment to terminate pregnancy to the Minister made under this regulation shall be in the Form II set out in the Schedule.

Trained staff

4. Every approved institution shall have among its personnel at least one doctor or nurse who has undergone a course of training in termination of pregnancy counselling conducted by the Director of Medical Services.

Mandatory counselling

5.—(1) Every authorised medical practitioner shall except as provided in paragraph (1A) provide a trained counsellor and facilities for counselling to such pregnant women who come to him for treatment to terminate their pregnancies as may be specified by conditions to the authorisation granted by the Minister under regulation 3.

[S 486/91 wef 01/12/1991]

(1A) Every authorised medical practitioner shall refer an unmarried pregnant woman below the age of 16 years who seeks treatment from him to terminate her pregnancy to such counselling centre or counselling facilities as may be directed by the Director of Medical Services.

(1B) Every authorised medical practitioner shall not terminate the pregnancy of a woman referred to in paragraph (1A) unless she produces to him a certificate of attendance in Form VII of the Schedule.

[S 486/91 wef 01/12/1991]

(2) Every authorised medical practitioner shall also provide a trained counsellor and facilities for counselling to a woman who has had her pregnancy terminated.

(3) The counselling referred to in paragraph (1) shall take such form, be conducted in such manner and in accordance with such criteria as shall be laid down in the conditions to an authorisation granted by the Minister under regulation 3 and shall be given to such pregnant women as may be directed by the Director of Medical Services.

[S 486/91 wef 01/12/1991]

(4) The proceedings of each session of counselling referred to in paragraph (1) shall be recorded on such form as the Director of Medical Services may prescribe.

[S 486/91 wef 01/12/1991]

Time lapse

6.—(1) If a pregnant woman, after she has been counselled, wishes to proceed with the treatment for the termination of pregnancy, at least 48 hours shall elapse before she is required to give written consent to the treatment and for the treatment to be given.

(2) Written consent for treatment to terminate pregnancy under section 3(1) of the Act shall be in the Form III set out in the Schedule.

(3) A declaration of her marital status, educational level and number of living children in the Form IV set out in the Schedule shall also be signed by the woman who requires treatment for termination of pregnancy.

Medical emergency

7. Regulation 5(1) shall not apply to any treatment to terminate pregnancy which is immediately necessary to save the life or prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of a pregnant woman.

Return on counselling personnel and facilities

8. Every authorised medical practitioner shall submit to the Director of Medical Services annually a return on the personnel and facilities available for counselling in the Form V set out in the Schedule.

Report on request for treatment to terminate pregnancy

9. A report in the Form VI set out in the Schedule shall be made to the Director of Medical Services by the authorised medical practitioner —

(a)	within 30 days of the pre-termination of pregnancy counselling if no treatment to terminate pregnancy is carried out on a pregnant woman; or
(b)	within 30 days of the post termination of pregnancy counselling if treatment to terminate pregnancy is carried out on a pregnant woman.

10. Every approved institution shall maintain a register of all treatments to terminate pregnancy carried out in the institution and such register shall contain the following particulars:

(a)	name of operating theatre;
(b)	name of authorised medical practitioner who carried out the treatment;
(c)	name of patient as indicated in her identity card or passport;
(d)	identity card or passport number of patient;
(e)	date of operation; and
(f)	method of termination of pregnancy.

Cancellation of status of an approved institution

11. Without prejudice to regulation 2(3), the Minister may cancel the approval for the use of any place as an approved institution and the authorisation to carry out treatment to terminate pregnancy if any authorised medical practitioner contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of regulations 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and any conditions specified by the Minister under regulation 3(3).

Disclosure of facts and information

12.—(1) Facts and information relating to treatment to terminate a pregnancy may be disclosed by a person mentioned in section 7(1)(a) and (b) of the Act to the following persons and only for the purpose of:

(a)	carrying out his duties — to an officer of the Ministry of Health authorised by the Director of Medical Services;
(b)	carrying out his duties in relation to offences under the Act or any law relating to abortion — to the Attorney-General or a member of his staff authorised by him;
(c)	investigating whether an offence has been committed under the Act or any law relating to abortion — to a police officer not below the rank of superintendent or a person authorised by him and any public officer appointed by the Minister under section 8 of the Act;
(d)	criminal proceedings which have begun; or
(e)	bona fide research.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (1), no facts or information relating to treatment to terminate a pregnancy shall be given to any person for any purpose unless the patient has expressly consented to the disclosure.

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