In Dasmariñas City, the Sangguniang Panglungsod approved the implementation of the ‘Right to Care’ card for its residents with the passage of Ordinance No. 04-S-2026 that allows members of the LGBTQIA+ community to make medical decisions for their partners during emergencies and hospital-related situations.
Introduced by Daisy Lyn P. Alvarez, the ordinance deals with an issue faced by LGBTQIA+ persons in relationships – i.e. the right to make medical decisions for each other since existing laws only allow those who’ve been wed (which is not granted to LGBTQIA+ couples) or their blood relatives to do these.
Dasmariñas City’s ordinance “recognizes the rights of members of the LGBTQIA+ community”, and so wants to provide them “support and privileges particularly in the field of healthcare services”.
“The Sangguniang Panlungsod deemed it appropriate to enact an ordinance that shall give rights to the members of the LGBTQIA+ by way of allowing their authorized partner to choose the kind of treatment, procedures, tests, and prescriptions they shall receive,” they added.
The Right to Care by Proxy (RCP) card will be issued only to bona fide residents of the city. But the health care agents, or those who are duly authorized to make health care decisions on behalf of the cardholder, may or may not be a resident of Dasmariñas City.
Through the card, the health care agent will have the authority to make “any and all health care decisions” on behalf of the cardholder and have the right to “receive medical information and records necessary to make informed decisions” regarding the patient’s health care.
These decisions will “have priority over decisions by any other person,” except as otherwise provided in the Health Care Proxy.
All health care providers within the jurisdiction of Dasmariñas City are required to recognize the RCP card.
Dasmariñas City joins four other cities that have adopted the Right to Care policy: Quezon City, San Juan City, Iloilo City, and Parañaque City.
