Dasmariñas, Parañaque join list of cities with 'Right to Care' ordinances

At least five cities now have healthcare proxy policies, popularly known as "Right to Care" ordinances, which allow patients to designate who can make medical decisions on their behalf in case they are unable to do it themselves.

Dasmariñas City and Parañaque City were confirmed this week to have passed such ordinances, aiming to respect the wishes of patients such as solo parents, single persons, persons in same-sex relationships, and members of non-traditional households when it comes to healthcare.

“Subject to any express limitations, the Health Care Agent shall have the authority to make any and all Health Care decisions on the Principal’s behalf that the Principal could make,” the Dasmariñas City Council wrote in Ordinance No. 04-s-2026 posted on its Facebook page on May 5.

“The Health Care Agent shall have the right to receive medical information and records necessarily to make informed decisions regarding the Principal’s Health Care,” it added.

The ordinance also provided that a “Right to Care by Proxies Card” (RCP Card) will function as proof that a health care proxy has been executed by the principal named in the RCP Card.

Further, the ordinance states that “health care decisions by the Health Care Agent on the Principal’s behalf shall have priority over decisions by any other person, except as otherwise provided in the Health Care Proxy.”

Meanwhile, the Parañaque City Council on May 6 endorsed to the Office of the Mayor its passed ordinance, as confirmed by GMA News Research.

Quezon City, San Juan City, and Iloilo City were the first three cities confirmed to have such ordinances, with Quezon City being the first to roll out the policy during June 2023.

Bills have since been filed in Congress, aiming to make the policy nationwide in scope. —JCB, GMA News