Bill allowing patients to pick partners as caregivers filed 

A bill allowing patients to designate their partners as healthcare agents who can make critical health decisions on their behalf has been filed in the House of Representatives.

Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña and three other lawmakers made the proposal under House Bill 2786 or the Right to Care Bill, which will cover same-sex couples, solo parents and other individuals from non-traditional households.

"The most compassionate and effective care comes from our loved ones. Walang mas may alam ng makabubuti sa atin kesa sa mga taong matagal na nating kasama at minamahal,” Cendaña said.

(Nobody knows what’s best for us better than those who live with us and love us.)

“Kung sila ang kasama natin tuwing check-up at ang nag-aalaga sa atin tuwing may sakit tayo, sila rin ang may karapatang magdesisyon para sa ating kalusugan. The Right to Care Bill is as life-saving as it is common sense,” Cendaña added.

(The people who accompany us during check ups, those who take care of us when we’re sick, they are the ones who have the right to decide for our health.)

Cendaña said there is no need to scramble for the healthcare agent of a patient because of absence of marriage.

“Hindi na tayo dapat maghintay, hanggang lumala ang kondisyon ng pasyente, para madesisyunan ang kanilang kalagayan," Cendaña said.

(We do not need to wait for the patient’s condition to get worse just to be able to decide on their treatment.)

Other authors of the bill are Dinagat Rep. Kaka Bag-ao and Akbayan Reps. Chel Diokno and Dadah Kiram-Ismula.

The Right to Care policy is already implemented in the local government units of San Juan and Quezon City.—LDF, GMA Integrated News