LGBTQ couples in Quezon City can now make medical decisions for partners with Right to Care card

Happy Pride indeed!

As the Quezon City government hosted a Pride Festival on June 24, Mayor Joy Belmonte announced an initiative allowing same-sex couples to make healthcare decisions for their partners through a “Right to Care” card.

Under the law, queer couples are not considered next-of-kin during medical emergencies—also because same-sex marriage is not yet legally recognized in the Philippines. However, this new card will contain a QR code that redirects to a virtual document of a special power of attorney (SPA) contract so the same-sex partners have a say in the medical decision.

The Right to Care Card is a Special Power of Attorney card that authorizes queer partners to make medical decisions for the one they love, as though you held the power of a civil marriage contract.#LoveLabanSaQC #PridePHFestival2023 #RightToCareCard pic.twitter.com/PBWQJj4Gco

— The Right to Care Card (@RightToCareCard) June 24, 2023

The provisions of the SPA include the following privileges:

• right to choose a doctor or healthcare provider, including admission or discharge from any hospital, nursing home, or residential facility
• right to allow or deny medical treatments, procedures, or any other medical concerns related to their partner’s medical condition
• right to receive, process, and/or disclose their partner’s personal information including medical records
• right to process documents and waivers

The Right to Care card will also allow partners to be beneficiaries in life insurance policies.

“There have been reports of LGBTQIA+ community members who were prohibited from making crucial decisions when their partners were admitted to intensive care units of hospitals,” Belmonte said. “We want all of our residents, regardless of sexual orientation, to be with their partners in critical moments and we are taking this important step to assure the rainbow community that they are cared for, recognized, and valued in Quezon City.”

The initiative will be implemented first at the Quezon City General Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, and Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital.

LGBTQ+ couples interested can register at QC’s gender and development office. After filling up forms, they will have to attend seminars that will discuss the benefits and rights that come with the card.

During the Right to Care card’s launch, Belmonte shared that it was the idea of Adrian Guzman, an openly gay advertising creative.

Read more: The LGBTQ+ community isn’t asking for special rights, just equal ones

banner photo from: Quezon City Government/facebook

The post <b>LGBTQ+ couples in Quezon City can now make medical decisions for partners with Right to Care card</b> appeared first on WE THE PVBLIC.

Source: we the pvblic