In the Province of Cavite, the provincial board has passed an ordinance that allows patients to designate who can make medical decisions on their behalf in case they are unable to do it themselves.
Popularly known as a “Right to Care” ordinance, the Provincial Ordinance No. 532-2026 aims to help respect the wishes of patients such as solo parents, single persons, persons in LGBTQIA+ relationships, members of non-traditional households, et cetera when it comes to healthcare.
The designated healthcare proxies will be issued a “CareCavite ID”, which is subject to yearly renewal, with the principal and the Health Care Proxy to participate in the renewal process to confirm their ongoing consent and agreement.
The ID – which will continue to be valid until it is formally revoked by the principal – is to expected to be acknowledged by health care providers in the province.
As FYI:
- the ordinance does not grant absolute authority to the designated healthcare proxy in the event of incapacity of the principal; and
- it conditions such authority on the incapacity or absence of a first-degree relative of the principal.
“(I)f a health care decision is needed during a critical-medical situation and the principal is not mentally and physically capable to make any decision for themselves, on the condition that, a first-degree relative is incapable and/or not present, the Health Care Proxy shall decide on behalf of the principal,” the ordinance reads.
Also, the determination of the principal’s incapacity to make health care decisions needs to be certified by the attending physician and properly documented in the principal’s medical records, except in situations where immediate life-saving intervention is required.
Cavite is the first province to pass a “Right to Care” ordinance. Already, the cities of Dasmariñas, Parañaque, Quezon, San Juan, and Iloilo already have their own versions.
