§ 23-4.10-1.1 — § 23-4.10-1.1. Definitions.

Rhode Island § 23-4.10-1.1

• Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
• Title 23: Health and Safety
• Ch. 23-4.10: Health Care Power of Attorney

Text

§ 23-4.10-1.1. Definitions.

The following definitions govern the construction of this chapter:

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

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

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

(4) "Director� means the director of health.

(5) "Durable power of attorneyâ€� means a witnessed document executed in accordance with the requirements of § 23-4.10-2.

(6) "Emergency medical services personnel� means paid or volunteer firefighters, law enforcement officers, first responders, emergency medical technicians, or other emergency services personnel acting within the ordinary 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 administer health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.

(8) "Life-sustaining procedure� means any medical procedure or intervention that, when administered to a patient, will serve only to prolong the dying process. "Life-sustaining procedure� shall not include any medical procedure or intervention considered necessary by the attending physician or emergency service personnel to provide comfort, care, or alleviate pain.

(9) "Person� means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or any other legal entity.

(10) "Physician and/or doctor� means an individual licensed to practice medicine in this state.

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

Legislative History

P.L. 1992, ch. 443, § 2; P.L. 1993, ch. 72, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 140, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 320, § 1.