India, Sept. 17 -- The Centre has told the Delhi High Court that an adult can be permitted to nominate a partner, including the one in a non-heterosexual relationship, to take medical decisions in case of their incapacity while respecting the patient's autonomy and continuity of care.

The government made the submission in response to a petition seeking recognition of same-sex couples as medical representatives during medical treatment.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission (NMC), in their counter affidavit, have submitted that such an approach is "substantially capable of being accommodated within the existing legal and ethical framework", subject to applicable law and appropriate safeguards...