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

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care, Home Nursing, and Specific/Incurable Disease Coverage

   Your immediate priority is registering the diagnosis with the ill person's public or supplementary health insurer and establishing a multidisciplinary symptom-management and home-nursing plan.

   • Public health insurance and Specific/Refractory Disease Fund: In Iran, individuals insured under the Social Security Organization or the Iran Health Insurance Organization (Sazman-e Bimeh-ye Salamat) who are diagnosed with serious, refractory, or life-limiting conditions (Bimari-haye Khas va Saab-ol-Alaj, including advanced cancer and severe neurological or organ failure conditions) qualify for enhanced medication and treatment subsidies through the Fund for Specific and Incurable Diseases [3] [6]. Registration can be verified through the Social Security Organization electronic portal or via the National Smart Government Services Window [3] [5].
   • Hospital palliative clinics and licensed home nursing: University medical sciences hospitals and specialized oncology centers in Iran operate pain-management and supportive care clinics alongside licensed Home Nursing Care Centers (Marakez-e Moraghebat-e Parastari dar Manzel) regulated by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education [6]. Ask the attending specialist to issue a certified clinical summary and prescription plan so home care nurses and first-degree relatives can manage symptoms and obtain controlled analgesics safely [6].
2. 2

   Record Medical Treatment Preferences and Designate a Family Medical Spokesperson

   Iran does not have a standalone statutory Living Will Act; instead, medical consent, surgical authorization, and inpatient care decisions are governed by the Iranian Patient's Rights Charter (Manshoor-e Hoghoogh-e Bimar), the Islamic Penal Code medical provisions, and hospital ethics committees [4] [6].

   • Documenting informed consent and care preferences: While your family member has full mental capacity, they have the legal right under the Patient's Rights Charter to discuss treatment options, refuse elective procedures, and express preferences for comfort-oriented symptom management with their attending physician so these instructions are documented in the hospital medical file [6].
   • First-degree family spokesperson and legal guardian rules: In Iranian hospitals, if an adult patient becomes physically unable to communicate, physicians consult the patient's legal guardian or immediate first-degree family members (Vali-ye Ghanooni) for high-risk medical consents [4] [6]. While capable, the ill person should clearly designate which immediate family member serves as the primary clinical contact and ensure that person holds copies of all medical records.
   • Statutory boundaries on end-of-life care: Active euthanasia and physician-assisted dying are strictly prohibited under Iranian law; clinical ethics committees focus on pain relief, palliative sedation where clinically indicated, and avoiding futile distress [6].
3. 3

   Execute Notarial Powers of Attorney (Vekalatnameh-ye Rasmi) While Capacity Is Intact

   Under the Iranian Civil Code, a Power of Attorney (Vekalatnameh) can only be executed while the principal possesses full mental capacity (Ahliyat-e Ghanooni) and rational discernment (Roshd). Acting while capacity is intact avoids the need for lengthy judicial interdiction and guardianship (Qayyomiyat) proceedings before the Family Court and Department of Guardianship (Edareh-ye Sarparasti) via the Judiciary Electronic Services Portal (Adliran) [4].

   • Executing a notarial Power of Attorney at a Notary Public (Daftar-e Asnad-e Rasmi): Your family member should execute a formal, registered Power of Attorney (Vekalatnameh-ye Kari va Edari or specialized banking/property mandate) before a licensed Notary Public (Daftar-e Asnad-e Rasmi, supervised by the State Organization for Registration of Deeds and Properties under the Judiciary) [4]. The notary verifies the principal's identity via the National Organization for Civil Registration database and registers the instrument electronically [1] [4].
   • Home or hospital bedside notarization: If the ill person is bedridden at home or hospitalized due to advanced physical illness but remains mentally alert and lucid, the family can formally request the head of the Notary Public office (Sardaftar) to attend the hospital or home in person to verify mental capacity and record the signature and fingerprint [4].
   • Bank-specific rules on powers of attorney: Many Iranian banks enforce strict internal rules requiring a Power of Attorney used for bank withdrawals or account management to specify banking powers explicitly and, in some cases, to be verified directly with the branch while the account holder is reachable via their registered mobile number (Shahkar) [4] [5].
4. 4

   Activate Disability Pensions (Az-Karkardegi) and State Welfare Support (Behzisti)

   An advanced or debilitating illness may entitle the ill person and their family to statutory disability retirement, rehabilitation support, or nursing care subsidies.

   • Social Security Medical Commission and total disability pension: If your family member is an insured contributor under the Social Security Organization and their illness causes permanent total loss of working capacity (66% or higher impairment as certified by the Social Security Medical Commission / Komisyon-e Pezeshki), they can apply to the Social Security Organization for a Total Disability Pension (Mostamarri-ye Az-Karkardegi-ye Kolli) [3].
   • Nursing and severe disability support via the State Welfare Organization: The State Welfare Organization of Iran provides home-based rehabilitation, assistive medical equipment, and monthly nursing care subsidies (Hagh-e Parastari) for individuals assessed with severe physical or functional dependency under the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [5].
5. 5

   Organize the Official Will (Vasiyat-Nameh), Civil Records, and Property Deeds

   Reviewing testamentary, identity, and property documents while the ill person can confirm every record ensures smooth administration later.

   • Drafting an Official Will (Vasiyat-Nameh-ye Rasmi): Under the Iranian Civil Code and the Law on Non-Litigious Matters (Ghanoon-e Omoor-e Hasbi), a person with full mental capacity may execute an Official Will (Vasiyat-Nameh-ye Rasmi) at a Notary Public office or deposit a Sealed/Holographic Will through the judicial registry accessible via the Judiciary Electronic Services Portal (Adliran) [4]. Under Iranian statutory law, a testator may freely bequeath up to one-third (1/3, Sols) of their net estate by will; any testamentary bequest exceeding one-third of the estate is legally valid only to the extent that the statutory heirs explicitly consent to it [4].
   • Verifying civil identity and single-leaf property deeds: Confirm that the ill person's Shenasnameh and smart National ID Card (Kart-e Melli) are up to date with the National Organization for Civil Registration, and verify that any older booklet real estate deeds (Sanad-e Daftarche-i) have been converted into modern electronic single-leaf title deeds (Sanad-e Tak-Barg) [1] [4]. Also ensure the ill person's Sana judicial notification account is active on the Judiciary Electronic Services Portal (Adliran) [4].
   • Cross-border powers of attorney for family abroad: If a family member living outside Iran needs to grant or receive a Power of Attorney to assist with medical, banking, or property management in Iran, the mandate must be registered through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Mikhak Electronic Consular System and verified at an Iranian embassy, consulate, or the Iranian Interests Section [2].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   National Organization for Civil Registration (Sabte Ahval) - Identity and Civil Status Services — National Organization for Civil Registration of Iran
2. [2]
   Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Mikhak Electronic Consular Services System — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran
3. [3]
   Social Security Organization (Tamin) - Medical Commissions and Disability Pensions — Social Security Organization of Iran
4. [4]
   Judiciary Electronic Services Portal (Adliran) - Legal, Guardianship, and Notarial Services — Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran
5. [5]
   State Welfare Organization of Iran (Behzisti) - Disability and Nursing Support — State Welfare Organization of Iran
6. [6]
   World Health Organization - Islamic Republic of Iran Health System Profile — World Health Organization (WHO)