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

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care, Home Nursing, and Health Coverage

   Your immediate priority is establishing a comprehensive symptom-management and palliative care pathway through Jordan's public, military, or specialized medical networks.

   • Specialized palliative and oncology care: The Ministry of Health oversees public hospitals and primary healthcare centers across Jordan and coordinates national pain-management protocols [1]. For oncology and complex life-limiting illnesses, the King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman operates a dedicated Department of Palliative Medicine offering both inpatient palliative units, outpatient symptom-management clinics, and structured home care consultations [2].
   • Medical insurance and royal medical exemptions: Review the ill person's coverage under the Civil Health Insurance Fund of the Ministry of Health, Royal Medical Services, or private health insurers [1]. Jordanian citizens facing catastrophic or advanced illnesses without sufficient coverage can apply for a government medical treatment exemption (I'faa Tibbi) through the Prime Ministry or Royal Hashemite Court medical offices, which covers treatment at public hospitals and the King Hussein Cancer Center [1] [2].
   • Home nursing and mobility accommodations: Ask the attending specialist team to issue a comprehensive medical report (Taqrir Tibbi Mufassal) detailing the diagnosis, functional limitations, and required medications so that first-degree relatives can collect prescriptions and coordinate multidisciplinary home visits when mobility becomes restricted [1] [2].
2. 2

   Record Medical Treatment Preferences and Designate a Healthcare Representative

   While Jordan does not have a standalone statutory Living Will Act comparable to some Western jurisdictions, medical consent and patient autonomy are governed by the Jordanian Medical and Health Liability Law No. 25 of 2018 and hospital ethics policies supervised by the Ministry of Health [1].

   • Written care preferences and informed consent: While your family member has full decision-making capacity, they should discuss and document their preferences regarding invasive interventions, intensive care admission, pain management, and comfort-focused care directly with their attending physician so these notes are entered into the official hospital medical file [1] [2].
   • Designating a family medical spokesperson: At specialized institutions such as the King Hussein Cancer Center and public tertiary hospitals, a capable patient may formally designate a first-degree adult relative in their hospital records to receive clinical updates, attend multidisciplinary care conferences, and communicate consent decisions if the patient becomes too weak to attend in person [1] [2].
   • Statutory framework on life-sustaining treatment: Keep in mind that active euthanasia and physician-assisted dying are strictly prohibited under Jordanian law; however, multidisciplinary palliative teams work within clinical ethics frameworks to prioritize pain relief and avoid non-beneficial interventions where clinically appropriate [1] [2].
3. 3

   Execute Notarial Powers of Attorney and Bank Mandates While Capacity Is Intact

   Under Jordanian civil law, a person can only grant a valid Power of Attorney (Wakalah) while they possess full mental capacity (Ahliyyah). Acting early prevents the need for lengthy judicial interdiction or guardianship proceedings.

   • Notarial Powers of Attorney (Wakalah Adliyyah): Your family member should execute a General Power of Attorney (Wakalah Ammah) or Special Power of Attorney (Wakalah Khasah) before the Notary Public (Katib Al-Adl) at the competent court under the Ministry of Justice [3]. A Special Power of Attorney is strongly advisable for specific high-stakes actions such as selling real estate, managing company shares, or dealing with specific bank accounts, as Jordanian agencies require explicit wording for dispositive acts [3].
   • Bedside or home notarization: If the ill person is hospitalized or housebound due to physical frailty but remains mentally alert, you can request a mobile transition of the Notary Public through the Ministry of Justice so the official visits the hospital or residence to verify mental capacity and witness the signature in person [3].
   • Bank mandates and digital access: Note that many Jordanian commercial banks require power-of-attorney holders to register the notarized Wakalah with the bank's legal department or sign the bank's own internal mandate form while the account holder is still able to confirm authorization [3].
4. 4

   Activate Disability Cards, Social Security Benefits, and Caregiver Support

   A serious or progressive illness may qualify the ill person for statutory disability protections, early pension disbursement, or workplace accommodations.

   • Disability identification and rights: Under the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities No. 20 of 2017, the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities coordinates functional and medical assessments to issue an official Identification Card for Persons with Disabilities, which facilitates reasonable accommodations, customs/tax exemptions for assistive equipment, and priority healthcare access [4].
   • Social Security disability pension: If your family member is an active contributor under the Jordanian social insurance system and their illness results in permanent total or partial natural disability before retirement age, they or their authorized representative can apply to the Social Security Corporation for an assessment by the Social Security Medical Committee to claim a Permanent Natural Disability Pension (Rawatib I'tilal) [5]. Where the medical committee certifies that the insured person requires the constant assistance of another person for daily living activities, the Social Security Corporation grants an additional statutory caregiver supplement of up to 25% of the disability pension [5].
   • Employee sick leave and family caregiving: Review statutory paid sick leave entitlements under the Jordanian Labour Law or Civil Service Bylaw, which permit extended medical leave upon approval by an official medical committee of the Ministry of Health [1] [5].
5. 5

   Organize Wills, Civil Status Documents, and Property Records

   Preparing civil, property, and succession documents in advance reduces administrative burdens on the family later.

   • Reviewing and registering a will (Wasiyyah): In Jordan, estate succession is governed by religious personal status law [6]. Under Islamic Sharia rules administered by the Sharia Courts under the Supreme Judge Department, a person may execute an official registered will (Wasiyyah) disposing of up to one-third (1/3) of their net estate to non-heirs or charitable causes; bequests exceeding one-third or made in favor of statutory heirs require the post-facto consent of the other adult heirs [6]. For Christian citizens, testamentary dispositions are governed by the relevant Ecclesiastical Court laws and may also be formally registered [3] [6].
   • Verifying civil status and property deeds: Confirm that the Family Book (Daftar Al-A'ila), National ID card, and marriage or birth entries are up to date with the Civil Status and Passports Department [3] [6]. Gather original land and apartment title deeds (Sanadat Tasjil) issued by the Department of Lands and Survey, vehicle registration cards, and life or credit insurance policies.
   • Cross-border assets and foreign powers of attorney: Because Jordan is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, any Power of Attorney or estate document executed outside Jordan (or intended for use abroad) must undergo full diplomatic chain legalization through the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and the relevant embassy [3].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Ministry of Health - Healthcare Services and Medical Committees — Ministry of Health of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
2. [2]
   King Hussein Cancer Center - Palliative Care and Patient Services — King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC)
3. [3]
   Ministry of Justice - Notary Public and Judicial e-Services — Ministry of Justice of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
4. [4]
   Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) — Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
5. [5]
   Social Security Corporation - Natural Disability Pension and Benefits — Social Security Corporation (SSC)
6. [6]
   Supreme Judge Department - Sharia Courts and Registered Wills — Supreme Judge Department