Termination of Pregnancy Regulations (Singapore)

Termination of Pregnancy Regulations

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Termination of Pregnancy Act

(CHAPTER 324, Section 11)

Termination of Pregnancy Regulations

Rg 1

G.N. No. S 244/1987

REVISED EDITION 1999

(1st April 1999)

[1st October 1987]

Citation

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

Application for approval as approved institution

—(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 —

(a)

in Form I in the Schedule; or

(b)

in the form set out in the electronic licensing system of the Ministry of Health at https://elis.moh.gov.sg.

[S 451/2013 wef 01/08/2013]

(2) The Minister may make any modification to the form referred to in paragraph (1)(b) for the purpose of facilitating the submission of that form.

(3) The form referred to in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in person, by post, by facsimile or using the electronic licensing system.

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

(5) The Minister may cancel the approval granted to any institution under paragraph (1) without giving any reason.

(6) Any approval for the use of any place as an approved institution shall, unless cancelled under paragraph (5), be for 2 years.

[S 320/2003 wef 01/07/2003]

Authorised medical practitioners

—(1) A medical practitioner who —

(a)

after being registered under the Medical Registration Act (Cap. 174); 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 any pregnancy to the Minister made under this regulation shall be in Form II 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

—(1) Every authorised medical practitioner shall, except as provided in paragraph (2), 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.

(2) 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.

(3) Every authorised medical practitioner shall not terminate the pregnancy of a woman referred to in paragraph (2) unless she produces to him a certificate of attendance in Form VII in the Schedule.

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

(5) 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.

(6) 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.

Time lapse

—(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 Form III in the Schedule.

(3) A declaration of her marital status, educational level and number of living children in Form IV in the Schedule shall 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 Form V in the Schedule.

Report on request for treatment to terminate pregnancy

—(1) A report on the request for treatment to terminate a pregnancy 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.

(2) The report referred to in paragraph (1) shall be —

(a)

in Form VI in the Schedule; or

(b)

in the form set out in the electronic filing system of the Ministry of Health at https://elis.moh.gov.sg.

[S 451/2013 wef 01/08/2013]

(3) The Director of Medical Services may make any modification to the form referred to in paragraph (2)(b) for the purpose of facilitating the submission of that form.

(4) The form referred to in paragraph (2) shall be submitted in person, by post, by facsimile or using the electronic filing system.

[S 320/2003 wef 01/07/2003]

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 approval or authorisation of 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 regulation 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and any condition 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 fact 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.

THE SCHEDULE

FORM I

Regulation 2 (1)
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT (CHAPTER 324)
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY REGULATIONS
APPLICATION FOR STATUS OF APPROVED INSTITUTION
SECTION 1 — PARTICULARS OF LICENSEE/MANAGER
1.1 Name as shown in NRIC/Passport (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Miss/Mdm*)		1.3 Male/Female	1.7 NRIC/Passport No.
1.2 Residential Address		1.4 Home Tel No.	1.8 Office Tel No.
		1.5 Mobile/Pager No	1.9 Email Address
		1.6 MCR No.	1.10 Qualifications
SECTION 2 — PARTICULARS OF PREMISES
2.1 Name of healthcare institution (as shown in the licence issued under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (Chapter 248))		2.2 Tel No.	2.3 Fax No.
2.4 Address of healthcare institution (as shown in the licence issued under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (Chapter 248))
SECTION 3 — PARTICULARS OF PERSONNEL
3.1 Name of medical practitioners authorised to perform abortion	MCR No.	Type of Registration	Qualifications
(1)		Full/Conditional
(2)		Full/Conditional
(3)		Full/Conditional
(4)		Full/Conditional
(5)		Full/Conditional
3.2 Name of anaesthetists	MCR No.	Type of Registration	Qualifications
(1)		Full/Conditional
(2)		Full/Conditional
(3)		Full/Conditional
(4)		Full/Conditional
3.3 Name of trained nurses	Qualifications
(1)
(2)
(3)
3.4 Name of certified Termination of Pregnancy counsellors	Qualifications
(1)
(2)
SECTION 4 — FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Item			Total Number
(a) Recovery beds
(b) Major and Minor Operating Theatres
(c) Operating tables
(d) Operating lights (fixed and portable)
(e) Motor suction
(f) Instrument trolley
(g) Instrument/dressing cabinet
(h) Are there facilities for sterilisation of instruments			Yes/No
(i) Alternate light source in the event of power failure			Yes/No
SECTION 5 — STATISTICS ON ABORTION (for renewal only)
Number of abortions performed during the previous 2 years		Year __________	Year __________
		__________	__________
SECTION 6 — DECLARATION
I declare the information in my application to be true, to the best of my knowledge. I also understand that approval of the licence is dependant on satisfactory compliance with the relevant requirements under the Termination of Pregnancy Act, Regulations and Guidelines.
Please note that MOH will contact you, if we require any additional information for your licence application.
*Delete where necessary.

FORM II

Regulation 3 (5)
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT (CHAPTER 324)
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY REGULATIONS
APPLICATION FOR AN AUTHORISATION TO CARRY OUT TREATMENT TO TERMINATE PREGNANCY

Application is hereby made by	_____________________________
	(Insert name of medical practitioner)
of ___________________________	at ___________________________
(Insert name of hospital/clinic)	(Insert address of hospital/clinic)
for an authorisation to carry out treatment to terminate pregnancy under *regulation 3 (1) or 3 (2) of the Termination of Pregnancy Regulations.
Particulars of Applicant
My qualifications and Obstetric and Gynaecological experience are as follows:
(1) Medical Qualifications:


(2) Duration of Obstetric and Gynaecological experience in Singapore Government hospital (excluding housemanship):


(3) Duration of Obstetric and Gynaecological experience in other hospitals (excluding housemanship):


*Delete whichever is inapplicable.

Declaration
I hereby declare that the particulars stated in this application and the attached documents listed below are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Documents submitted [Mark ‘X’ in the appropriate box(es)]
1. A copy each of my medical qualifications
2. Proof of my Obstetric and Gynaecological experience
3. Others:



____________________		____________________
Date		Signature of Applicant

CONFIDENTIAL

FORM III

Regulation 6 (2)
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT (CHAPTER 324)
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY REGULATIONS
CONSENT FOR THE TREATMENT TO TERMINATE PREGNANCY
I have been counselled by ______________________________________
and fully understand the effects of abortion. I hereby request and give my consent for treatment to terminate pregnancy to be performed on me by
_______________________________________________________________
(Name of authorised medical practitioner)
of ____________________________________________________________
(Hospital/Approved Institution)
at ____________________________________________________________
(Address)
I also consent to such further alternative operative measures as may be found necessary during the course of the operation and to the administration of anaesthesia for this purpose.
Name of Pregnant Woman: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
Citizenship: _________________		NRIC No.: ___________________
__________________________				_______________
Signature				Date
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Name of Witness: _______________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
Citizenship: ____________________	NRIC No.: ________________
__________________________			_______________
Signature			Date

FORM IV

Regulation 6 (3)
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT (CHAPTER 324)
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY REGULATIONS
DECLARATION FORM
Name: _________________________________________________________
NRIC/Passport No.: _________________________
Marital Status: _____________________________
Educational Level: __________________________
No. of Living Children: ______________________

I hereby declare that the above information given by me is true and correct.


________________		___________________________
Date		Signature of Declarant

FORM V

Regulation 8
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT (CHAPTER 324)
TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY REGULATIONS
RETURN ON PROVISION FOR TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY COUNSELLING FACILITIES AT CLINIC
I _____________________________________________________________
(Name of Authorised Medical Practitioner)
of _________________________________________________________________
(Name and Address of Clinic)
Hereby declare that the personnel and facilities indicated hereunder are available for counselling:
1. Hospital/Clinic where pre and post-termination of pregnancy counselling will be provided: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
2. Counsellors:
	Name	Qualifications
	_________________________	____________________
	_________________________	____________________
	_________________________	____________________
3. Audio-visual equipment for screening of counselling materials:
(a) Number of television sets: ______________________
(b) Number of video cassette recorders: ______________
I am prepared to give all facilities to any public officer at the Ministry of Health to enter and inspect my clinic and to answer any questions that may be put to me.
Dated this day of 19 .
_________________			_________________
Signature			Designation

FORM VI

Regulation 9

FORM VII

Regulation 5(3)

[G.N. Nos. S 244/87; S 188/88; S 486/91; S 174/97; S 239/97]

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Termination of Pregnancy Regulations

(CHAPTER 324, Rg 1)

This Legislative History is provided for the convenience of users of the Termination of Pregnancy Regulations. It is not part of these Regulations.
1.	G. N. No. S 244/1987—Termination of Pregnancy Regulations 1987
	Date of commencement	:	1 October 1987
2.	G. N. No. S 188/1988—Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Regulations 1988
	Date of commencement	:	Date not available
3.	G. N. No. S 486/1991—Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Regulations 1991
	Date of commencement	:	Date not available
4.	1990 Revised Edition—Termination of Pregnancy Regulations
	Date of operation	:	25 March 1992
5.	G. N. No. S 174/1997—Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Regulations 1997
	Date of commencement	:	4 April 1997
6.	G. N. No. S 239/1997—Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1997
	Date of commencement	:	16 May 1997
7.	1999 Revised Edition—Termination of Pregnancy Regulations
	Date of operation	:	1 April 1999
8.	G. N. No. S 320/2003—Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Regulations 2003
	Date of commencement	:	1 July 2003
9.	G.N. No. S 451/2013—Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Regulations 2013
	Date of commencement	:	1 August 2013