ILOILO City – Residents of this city, including those without immediate family, may soon gain the legal right to appoint trusted individuals to make medical decisions on their behalf, once the proposed “Right to Care Ordinance” is passed.
The measure, now under deliberation at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, would require all hospitals and health facilities in Iloilo City to recognize health care proxies designated through a notarized document and an official Right to Care Card to be issued by the city government.
This measure is for those who often face barriers in health care — the elderly, individuals living alone, and members of the LGBTQ community.
It aims to give them the dignity and right to choose who will stand by them in times of need, who to take care of them and make decisions for their healthcare.
Currently, many hospitals only honor consent from immediate family members, creating hurdles for those who live alone or whose chosen family is outside traditional legal definitions.
Under the proposal, health care agents listed in the Right to Care Card would have the same legal standing as a patient’s next of kin in decision-making.
The measure also provides penalties for non-compliant institutions, legal immunity for providers acting in good faith, and funding support through the city’s Gender and Development (GAD) Office.
Anchored on constitutional rights to health, due process, and equal protection, as well as the country’s human rights commitments, the proposed ordinance would make Iloilo City one of the first local governments in the Philippines to formally recognize health care proxies.
The proposed ordinance was introduced by Councilor Jose Maria Dela Llana./PN
