§ 5-37.5-3 - Definitions. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 5-37.5-3

   § 5-37.5-3  Definitions. – For purposes of the chapter:

   (1) "Board" means the Rhode Island board of medical licensureand discipline;

   (2) "Long term antibiotic therapy" means administration oforal, intramuscular or intravenous antibiotics, singly or in combination, forperiods of greater than four (4) weeks;

   (3) "Lyme disease" means the clinical diagnosis by aphysician of the presence in a patient of signs and symptoms compatible withacute infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, or with late stage or chronicinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi, or with complications related to such aninfection. "Lyme disease" includes infection which meets the surveillancecriteria set forth by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),but also includes other acute and chronic manifestations of such an infectionas determined by the physician;

   (4) "Physician" means persons licensed pursuant to chapter 37of this title by the board;

   (5) "Therapeutic purpose" means the use of antibiotics tocontrol a patient's symptoms determined by the physician as reasonably relatedto Lyme disease and its sequelae.