Terminal Illness & End-of-Life Planning in Dominica: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care, Home Nursing, and Health Coverage

   • Hospital and community palliative care: Coordinate symptom management, pain relief, and specialist referrals through the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital in Roseau or the regional health centres managed by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services [2]. Primary care teams and district nurses provide community follow-up, wound care, and medication monitoring across Dominica's seven health districts [2].
   • Home nursing and oncology support: Connect with district community health nurses under the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services and local patient support organizations, such as the Dominica Cancer Society, to arrange home visits, medical equipment loans, and family caregiver guidance [2].
   • Health insurance and medical cost coordination: Review any private medical or critical-illness insurance policies held by your family member to confirm coverage for inpatient treatment, prescription medications, home nursing, or overseas tertiary care referrals, and verify public hospital fee exemptions that apply to insured contributors and pensioners [2] [3].
2. 2

   Record Advance Healthcare Directives and Appoint a Medical Representative

   • Written statement of treatment preferences: While Dominica does not have a single standalone statute governing living wills, an adult with full mental capacity may execute a written advance healthcare directive setting out informed consent or refusal regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition, and palliative sedation [2].
   • Designating a healthcare spokesperson: Nominate a trusted primary and alternate family representative in writing to communicate with attending physicians if the ill person becomes unable to express medical decisions directly, and ask the treating physician to witness and record capacity at the time of signing [2] [3].
   • Clinical file lodging: Provide signed copies of the advance treatment statement and representative contact details to the attending hospital team at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital, the district health centre supervised by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, and all close relatives so that clinical teams can consult the document immediately during an emergency [2].
3. 3

   Execute Powers of Attorney and Bank Mandates While Capacity Is Intact

   • General or specific Power of Attorney: Under Dominican law, a Power of Attorney must be executed as a formal deed while the grantor retains full legal and mental capacity, witnessed and attested before a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, or attorney-at-law, and registered with the Registry Division on Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard in Roseau [1].
   • Real property and legal authority: Ensure the deed explicitly authorizes the appointed attorney-in-fact to manage real estate, sign legal instruments, deal with utility providers, and represent the grantor before public authorities including the Registry Division and the Inland Revenue Division [1] [6].
   • Direct banking and credit union mandates: Because commercial banks and credit unions in Dominica often require their own internal third-party mandate forms or joint-signatory verification, accompany your family member - or arrange a home or hospital visit with a bank officer and medical capacity letter - to register signing authority before capacity declines [1].
4. 4

   Activate Sickness, Invalidity, and Caregiver Support Benefits

   • Short-term Sickness Benefit: If your family member is an employed or self-employed contributor who becomes incapable of work due to illness, file a Sickness Benefit claim with Dominica Social Security using the prescribed medical certification forms [3] [4]. Sickness Benefit is paid at 60 percent of Average Weekly Insurable Earnings for up to 26 weeks (156 days) of medically certified incapacity [3].
   • Long-term Invalidity Benefit: When a life-limiting illness causes permanent incapacity for work before retirement age and the contributor meets the minimum contribution thresholds, submit an application for an Invalidity Pension or Invalidity Grant to Dominica Social Security, supported by medical reports for evaluation by the board's medical referee [3] [4].
   • Social welfare and caregiver arrangements: For individuals with limited social insurance coverage or high care needs, contact the Social Welfare Division within the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services regarding public assistance grants, and ask employers about contractual compassionate or family medical leave for caregivers [2] [3].
5. 5

   Organize the Will, Civil Status Records, and Cross-Border Estate Documents

   • Drafting or updating a valid Will: Work with a Dominican attorney-at-law to prepare or update a Last Will and Testament that complies with formal execution rules - signed by the testator in the simultaneous presence of two independent adult witnesses - so that future administration under the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Non-Contentious Probate and Administration of Estates) Rules proceeds smoothly [1] [5].
   • Gathering civil status and tax records: Obtain certified copies of birth and marriage certificates from the Registry Division or via the Government of Dominica e-Services portal, consolidate land certificates of title or conveyances, and verify tax compliance and filing records with the Inland Revenue Division [1] [6].
   • Cross-border assets and foreign documents: Review named beneficiaries on life insurance policies, credit union shares, and pension accounts with Dominica Social Security [3]. If your family member holds assets or family ties outside Dominica, ensure powers of attorney and civil documents are authenticated with a Hague Apostille through the Registry Division and aligned with estate counsel in each relevant jurisdiction [1] [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Registry Division - Deeds, Civil Status, and Court Registry — Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs
2. [2]
   Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services — Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica
3. [3]
   Benefits Information - Sickness and Invalidity Benefits — Dominica Social Security
4. [4]
   Claim Forms and Contributor Documentation — Dominica Social Security
5. [5]
   Non-Contentious Probate Rules and Administration of Estates — Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
6. [6]
   Tax Forms and Administration — Inland Revenue Division