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Voluntary Sterilization Act

(Chapter 347, Section 13)

Voluntary Sterilization Regulations

Rg 1

REVISED EDITION 1990

(25th March 1992)

[27th December 1974]

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Voluntary Sterilization Regulations.

Application for status of approved institution

2.—(1) An application to the Minister for the approval of any 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.

Surgical or obstetric qualifications requisite for treatment

3.—(1) A registered medical practitioner in private practice or working in an approved institution who holds any of the following qualifications, that is to say —

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

shall be regarded as having the requisite surgical or obstetric qualifications for carrying out treatment for both male and female sterilization.

(2) A registered medical practitioner in private practice who does not hold any of the qualifications specified in paragraph (1) but who, after having been so registered has had at least 6 months experience in a surgical unit of a Singapore Government hospital or a hospital recognised by the Minister, that is outside Singapore, shall be regarded as qualified to carry out treatment for male sexual sterilization only.

(3) A registered medical practitioner, who is employed by the Government and who holds, or has held, an appointment in a surgical unit of any Government hospital for a period of not less than 6 months, shall be regarded as having acquired the requisite skill for carrying out both male and female sexual sterilization.

Duties of medical practitioner

4.—(1) Every registered medical practitioner who carries out treatment for sexual sterilization shall —

(a)	report to the Director of Medical Services within 30 days of any treatment in the Form II set out in the Schedule;
(b)	issue a certificate of sexual sterilization to the person sterilized in the Form III set out in the Schedule; and
(c)	keep a duplicate of the certificate of sexual sterilization.

(2) Every approved institution shall maintain a register of all treatments for sexual sterilization carried out in the institution and the register shall contain the following particulars:

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

(3) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with this regulation shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

Consent for treatment

5. Consent for treatment for sexual sterilization and, if applicable, the certificate to be given by a registered medical practitioner, required under section 3(2) of the Act, shall be in the Form IV set out in the Schedule.

Facts to be disclosed only to authorised officers

6.—(1) Facts and information relating to treatment for sexual sterilization may be disclosed by a person mentioned in section 5 (1) (a) or (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 — to the Attorney-General or a member of his staff authorised by him;
(c)	investigating whether an offence has been committed under the Act — 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 6 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 for sexual sterilization shall be given to any person for any purpose unless the applicant has expressly consented to the disclosure.