Right to Care Card for LGBTQIA+ couples launched in Quezon City

Queer couples in Quezon City will now have the power to make medical decisions for their partners.

On Saturday, the Quezon City government launched the Right to Care Card, which will recognize the decision of the cardholders to agree, refuse, or withdraw consent for any type of medical care for their partners, including treatment, procedures, tests, and prescriptions.

The Right to Care Card has a QR code that will direct the user to the notarized digital version of the Special Power of Attorney (SPA) document, which contains the privileges authorized by the cardholders for their respective partners.

At present, hospitals and medical facilities across the country only recognize decisions from legal spouses or next of kin.

“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,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement.

“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,” she added.

The program will initially be implemented in three government hospitals in the city: the Quezon City General Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, and Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital.

The local government unit said it plans to expand the program to other public or private Quezon City-based hospitals.

To avail of the program, interested LGBTQIA+ couples can register with the Quezon City Gender and Development (GAD) Office, where they will be asked to fill out forms, including the SPA contract, which they need to have notarized as well.

The Quezon City Legal Team will then validate the data provided. Once validated, the QC GAD Office will issue physical cards with unique QR codes to access the digital copy of the SPA contract.

Registered individuals must attend seminars that will discuss in detail all the rights and benefits that come with the card.