Right to Care Card in Quezon City for LGBTQIA+ Life Partners
In sickness and in health.
(SPOT.ph) When a person married to a person of the opposite sex is hospitalized or needs medical attention, their partners have the right to make decisions for their spouses when needed. The same isn't the case for LGBTQIA+ life partners, until Quezon City government launched "Right to Care" cards on June 24, 2023, finally giving queer couples the right to do so.
What is Quezon City's "Right to Care" Card?
Quezon City's Right to Care Card, a first in the entire Philippines, is a special power of attorney (SPA) card granting queer partners several rights currently limited to legal spouses or next of kin. This will allow LGBTQIA+ life partners to decide on any type of medical care their partners need, may it be for treatment, procedures, tests, even prescriptions.
“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,” said Mayor Joy Belmonte, a vocal ally of the community, who formally launched the landmark initiative during Pride Month.
“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," said Belmonte, who hopes that other cities will follow suit.
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"Right to Care" Card Rights and Special Power of Attorney
The card is as colorful as the Pride flag, with a rainbow-colored QR code, which leads to a notarized SPA contract.
A Special Power of Attorney (SPA) is a legal document that grants a specific person or entity the authority to act on behalf of another individual, known as the principal, for a specific purpose or transaction. This power of attorney is "special" because it is limited to a particular task or situation, unlike a general power of attorney, which grants broader authority.
The front of the card also contains the name of the couple, specified as the principal card holder and the life partner, and the card's date of validity.
At the back, the Right to Care card lists down the rights of life partners, which includes but is not limited to:
- Right to provide care during hospitalization
- Right to sign any waiver or document
- Right to medical decision-making
Privileges of Right to Care cardholders may also include:
- Right to choose a particular physician or health care provider for their partner, including admission or discharge from any hospital, nursing hojme, or other care facilities
- Right to receive, process, and/or disclose their partner's personal informaltion including medical records
- Right to allow or deny medical treatments, procedures, or other medical concerns related to their partner's medical condition
- Right to other actions covered by the Right to Care card such as processing documents and waivers and pursuing dispute resolution processes
This will be initially implemented in three public hospitals in Quezon City: Novaliches General Hospital, Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital, and Quezon City General Hospital. Soon, the city government will also ink partnerships with other public and private hospitals for this initiative, the LGU said in a press release.
How to Get the Right to Care Card in Quezon City
Interested couples may visit the Quezon City Gender and Development (GAD) Office, where they will be asked to fill out forms, including a special power of attorney contract, which needs to be notarized.
Once the forms are filled out and submitted, the Quezon City legal team will validate the information. Once validated, the QC GAD office will distribute the cards.
Those registered will also be required to attend seminars where all the rights and benefits of the card will be discussed.
The Quezon City Gender and Development (GAD) Office is at the 6/F High Rise Building, Quezon City Hall. It is open from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For any concerns, you may call their hotline at 8988-4242 local 8739/8732/8168.
How to Get a Special Power of Attorney if You're Not from Quezon City
LGBTQ+ couples who are not from Quezon City can also secure an official document that allows life partners the right to provide care during hospitalization, the right to sign any waiver, the right to medical decision-making, and other medical rights guaranteed to legally married couples.
Just make sure that the SPA is executed according to the requirements of Philippine law, which means it is notarized in a law office (not those notary public stalls located near photocopying centers or under the train stations). It should also be signed by both principal and the authorized agent, and should clearly outline the specific powers granted to the agent and any limitations or conditions associated with those powers.
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