The Quezon City government launched the Right to Care Card, which gives LGBTQ+ couples residing in the city the right to make health-related decisions for each other.
Photo: Freepik
Since LGBTQ+ couples are not considered next-of-kin during medical emergencies, this Special Power of Attorney card will now allow them to have authority over their partner’s health as if they held the power of a civil marriage contract.
“Through the Special Power of Attorney o SPA, you now have the right to provide care during hospitalization; and the right to medical decision-making,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement.
Among the provisions granted to the cardholders are choosing a physician or healthcare provider for their partner and exercising authority over their partner’s personal information and medical treatments.
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“Sa Right to Care program, uunahin nating magkaroon ng katuparan ang karapatan ng same-sex couples sa ating city government hospitals [With the Right to Care program, we’ll prioritize the rights of same-sex couples in our city government hospitals],” she added.
Photo: @RightToCareCard Twitter
The card includes a QR code that will direct users to the notarized digital version of the Special Power of Attorney document.
LGBTQ+ couples can register through Quezon City’s Gender and Development (GAD) office. Once registered, they will also be required to attend seminars to become informed about the rights and benefits of the card.
The Right to Care Card was officially launched at the city’s Pride Festival on June 23. The LGBTQ+ community applauded this initiative as they have been continuously pushing for equal rights.
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