§ 23-4.11-2 - Definitions. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 23-4.11-2

   § 23-4.11-2  Definitions. – The following definitions govern the construction of this chapter:

   (1) "Advance directive protocol" means a standardized,state-wide method developed for emergency medical services personnel by thedepartment of health and approved by the ambulance service advisory board, ofproviding palliative care to, and withholding life-sustaining procedures from,a qualified patient.

   (2) "Artificial feeding" means the provision of nutrition orhydration by parenteral, nasogastric, gastric or any means other than throughper oral voluntary sustenance.

   (3) "Attending physician" means the physician who has primaryresponsibility for the treatment and care of the patient.

   (4) "Declaration" means a witnessed document executed inaccordance with the requirements of § 23-4.11-3.

   (5) "Director" means the director of health.

   (6) "Emergency medical services personnel" means paid orvolunteer firefighters, law enforcement officers, first responders, emergencymedical technicians, or other emergency services personnel acting within theordinary course of their professions.

   (7) "Health care provider" means a person who is licensed,certified, or otherwise authorized by the law of this state to administerhealth care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.

   (8) "Life sustaining procedure" means any medical procedureor intervention that, when administered to a qualified patient, will serve onlyto prolong the dying process. "Life sustaining procedure" shall not include anymedical procedure or intervention considered necessary by the attendingphysician to provide comfort and care or alleviate pain.

   (9) "Person" means an individual, corporation, businesstrust, estate, trust, partnership, association, government, governmentalsubdivision or agency, or any other legal entity.

   (10) "Physician" means an individual licensed to practicemedicine in this state.

   (11) "Qualified patient" means a patient who has executed adeclaration in accordance with this chapter and who has been determined by theattending physician to be in a terminal condition.

   (12) "Reliable documentation" means a standardized,state-wide form of identification such as a nontransferable necklace orbracelet of uniform design, adopted by the director of health, withconsultation from the local community emergency medical services agencies andlicensed hospice and home health agencies, that signifies and certifies that avalid and current declaration is on file and that the individual is a qualifiedpatient.

   (13) "Terminal condition" means an incurable or irreversiblecondition that, without the administration of life sustaining procedures, will,in the opinion of the attending physician, result in death.