How does a country that doesn&#39;t recognize same-sex marriage deal with same-sex couples in situations where the couple make decisions for each other?
<p>For example, say Alice and Barbara legally married in some country where same-sex marriage is allowed. They then go to a country where same-sex marriage is not allowed. While there, Alice is run down by a car, rendered unconscious, and hospitalized. Barbara, being the next of kin, would &quot;usually&quot; get to decide what medical procedures Alice should undergo. But they are in a country where same-sex marriage is not recognized. Does Barbara still get to decide what medical procedures Alice undergoes?</p>
<p>I imagine this must have happened before, but I'm unable to find results for this with a Google search (e.g. there doesn't appear to be anything relevant <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/lgbtqi.html/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">in this link</a>), hence I'm asking this question.</p>
<p>If this varies between jurisdictions, I'm interested in all of them. If there is enough variation that the question becomes too broad, assume the UAE.</p>

<h2>The authorities ignore Barbara</h2>
<p>Typically.</p>
<p>Before the recognition of same sex relationships in <a href="/questions/tagged/australia" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;australia&#39;" aria-label="show questions tagged &#39;australia&#39;" rel="tag" aria-labelledby="australia-container">australia</a>, but after decriminalisation of homosexuality, people who were in that position were simply ignored. “You say you’re the next of kin? No, you aren’t. F#@k off.”</p>
<p>Before decriminalisation, you kept your mouth shut because you didn’t want to a) go to jail, or b) get <a href="https://www.solidarity.net.au/lgbti/poofter-bashing-sport-police-game/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bashed by the cops</a>. The latter remained a risk for many years after decriminalisation. Note that this is still the situation in many countries today.</p>

international marriage