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
Hope they don't abuse this act.
Not all old people suffer from dementia.