A measure now pending in the House of Representatives seeks to institutionalize a process that would allow patients to officially name who can speak on their behalf in medical situations when they are no longer able to decide for themselves.
House Bill No. 7068, also known as the “Right to Care Act,” was filed by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima. The proposal introduces a mechanism for individuals to designate a health care agent through a registered declaration, rather than relying on default assumptions about family or marital ties.
Under the bill, the designation would be recorded through a formal process and may be integrated into existing government systems, including a registry managed by the Department of Health. The information could also be reflected on a person’s PhilHealth identification to make it readily accessible in hospitals and emergency settings.
De Lima said the initiative addresses gaps in current practice, where medical decision-making authority is often limited to legally recognized relatives. She noted that this framework can exclude partners or trusted individuals in non-traditional family arrangements, leaving patients without a recognized advocate during critical moments.
The proposal builds on precedents already implemented at the local level. Quezon City rolled out its own Right to Care card in 2023, enabling residents to formally authorize partners as decision-makers in health matters. The program has been used by a range of couples, including those in same-sex relationships, with hundreds of applications recorded by 2025. San Juan City followed with a similar ordinance the same year.
The national bill also consolidates concepts from earlier legislative proposals that aimed to clarify consent and representation in medical care. It is currently undergoing review in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers will determine whether the framework will be adopted on a nationwide scale.
