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

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care, Home Nursing, and Health Coverage

   • Public hospitals and oncology centers: Specialized symptom management, oncology treatment, and inpatient supportive care in Syria are delivered through public university hospitals (such as Al-Bairouni University Hospital in Damascus) and governorate hospitals supervised by the Ministry of Health [1][5]. Families should request a comprehensive clinical report (Taqrir Tibbi Mufassal) and pain-management prescription plan from the treating specialist [1].
   • Home care and humanitarian health support: Where home nursing or outpatient palliative support is preferred, families can coordinate with licensed private nursing services, charitable medical associations, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and partner programs supported by the World Health Organization operating across Syrian governorates [1][5].
   • Public and private health insurance: If the ill person is a civil servant or insured worker covered through the Syrian Insurance Establishment (Al-Mu'assasa al-Ammaeh lil-Ta'min) or a syndicate health fund, submit the specialist's diagnostic report and hospital pre-authorization forms early so inpatient treatments and chronic medications are approved within network limits [4][6].
2. 2

   Record Medical Treatment Preferences and Designate a Family Spokesperson

   • Statutory framework for medical decisions: Syrian law does not establish a standalone statutory living-will registry or binding advance directive to refuse life-sustaining intervention, as clinical ethics regulated by the Ministry of Health require physicians to preserve life and provide comfort care [1][4].
   • Documenting clinical preferences: While your family member retains full decision-making capacity, we advise discussing symptom control, hospital admission preferences, and surgical consent directly with the attending physician so these wishes are entered into the hospital medical record [1].
   • Designating a primary medical contact: In Syrian hospital practice, when a patient can no longer communicate, physicians consult the closest legally recognized adult family member or a representative holding a notarized mandate [4]. Executing a written authorization naming a primary family spokesperson helps prevent disputes among relatives during urgent hospital admissions [4].
3. 3

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

   • Notarial Powers of Attorney (Wakala Adliyya): Under the Syrian Civil Code, a power of attorney is valid only if executed while the principal possesses full mental capacity (Ahliyya Kamilah) [4]. Your family member can execute a general power of attorney (Wakala Amma) or specific power of attorney (Wakala Khassa) before a Public Notary (Katib bil-Adl) under the Ministry of Justice [4].
   • Home or hospital bedside notarization: If the ill person is physically unable to travel to the courthouse, the family can request the Public Notary (Katib bil-Adl) to attend the hospital or residence, accompanied by a medical certificate confirming that the patient is fully conscious and mentally competent at the time of signature [4].
   • Banking and real estate precautions: State and private banks in Syria, as well as the Directorate of Cadastral Affairs, frequently require specific powers of attorney with explicit clauses authorizing account operation, pension collection, or property disposition, and they may impose validity renewals [4]. Keep certified copies of the notarized mandate readily accessible.
4. 4

   Activate Disability Pensions, Sick Leave, and Caregiver Support

   • Private-sector disability and sickness benefits: Workers insured with the General Organization for Social Insurance (Al-Mu'assasa al-Amma lil-Ta'minat al-Ijtima'iyya) who become permanently unable to work due to severe illness can apply for assessment by the institution's medical committee to activate a total disability pension (Ma'ash al-Ajz al-Kulli) [3][4].
   • Public-sector medical retirement: Civil servants and government employees covered by the General Organization for Insurance and Pensions (Al-Mu'assasa al-Amma lil-Ta'min wal-Ma'ashat) may request evaluation by the Higher Medical Committee (Al-Lajna al-Tibbiyya al-Ulya) for paid extended sick leave or medical retirement on health grounds [6].
   • Caregiver leave and social assistance: Under Syrian Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 and civil service regulations, employees may request paid annual leave or unpaid special family leave to care for an ill relative, while vulnerable households may also register disability needs with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour [4].
5. 5

   Organize Wills, Civil Status Records, and Property Documentation

   • Reviewing civil status records: Verify that the ill person's national identity card (Bitaqa Shakhsiyya) and family booklet (Daftar al-A'ila) held with the General Directorate of Civil Status are completely up to date, with all marriages and children properly registered, as any discrepancy will delay future court filings [4].
   • Wills (Wasiyya) and forced heirship rules: Under the Syrian Personal Status Law, statutory inheritance shares are fixed by law; for Muslim citizens, a testamentary bequest (Wasiyya) is generally capped at one-third of the net estate and requires execution or registration before the competent Personal Status Court, whereas Christian and Druze communities follow their respective recognized confessional personal status statutes [4].
   • Property deeds and cross-border coordination: Gather original green title deeds (Sanad Tamalluk / Tabu), vehicle registrations, and debt records [4]. If a designated representative or family member lives abroad, powers of attorney or civil documents sent to or from Syria must be legalized through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the relevant Syrian diplomatic mission, since Syria does not use Hague Apostilles [2].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Ministry of Health - Syrian Arab Republic Official Portal — Ministry of Health (moh.gov.sy)
2. [2]
   Consular Civil Status and Legalization Services — Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (mofaex.gov.sy)
3. [3]
   General Organization for Social Insurance - Disability and Social Security Benefits — General Organization for Social Insurance (taminat.sy)
4. [4]
   Syrian Arab Republic - Civil Status, Labour, and Social Security Legislation — International Labour Organization NATLEX (natlex.ilo.org)
5. [5]
   World Health Organization - Syrian Arab Republic Country Office — World Health Organization (who.int)
6. [6]
   Required Documents for Pension and Medical Retirement Claims — General Organization for Insurance and Pensions (taminmash.sy)