TITLE 23
Health and Safety
CHAPTER 23-4.11
Rights of the Terminally Ill Act
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 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) "Declaration" means a witnessed document executed in
accordance with the requirements of §§ 23-4.11-3 or 23-4.11-3.1.
(5) "Director" means the director of health.
(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 decision maker" means a person authorized by
law or by the qualified patient to make health care decisions for the qualified
patient. The qualified patient may revoke at any time and in any manner the
appointment of a health care decision maker.
(8) "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.
(9) "Life sustaining procedure" means any medical procedure
or intervention that, when administered to a qualified 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 to provide comfort and care or alleviate pain.
(10) "Medical orders for life sustaining treatment" or
"MOLST" means a voluntary request that directs a health care provider regarding
resuscitative and life-sustaining measures.
(11) "Medical orders for life sustaining treatment form" or
"MOLST Form" means a document which directs health care providers regarding
resuscitative and life-sustaining measures.
(12) "MOLST qualified health care provider" means the
physician, registered nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who is
authorized by the patient to sign a MOLST form.
(13) "Physician assistant" shall mean a person licensed as a
physician assistant under Rhode Island general laws, chapter 5-54.
(14) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business
trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, government, governmental
subdivision or agency, or any other legal entity.
(15) "Physician" means an individual licensed to practice
medicine under subdivision 5-37-1(13).
(16) "Qualified patient" means a patient who has executed a
declaration in accordance with this chapter and who has been determined by the
attending physician to be in a terminal condition.
(17) "Registered nurse practitioner" shall mean a person
licensed as such under Rhode Island general laws, chapter 5-34.
(18) "Reliable documentation" means a standardized,
state-wide form of identification such as a nontransferable necklace or
bracelet of uniform design, adopted by the director of health, with
consultation from the local community emergency medical services agencies and
licensed hospice and home health agencies, that signifies and certifies that a
valid and current declaration is on file and that the individual is a qualified
patient.
(19) "Request regarding resuscitative and life sustaining
measures" means a written document, signed by:
(i) A qualified patient with capacity, or a recognized health
care decision maker; and
(ii) The MOLST qualified health care provider, which directs
a health care provider regarding resuscitative and life sustaining measures.
Such a request regarding resuscitative and life sustaining measures is a
medical order.
(20) "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.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1991, ch. 166, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 308, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch.
324, § 5; P.L. 1992, ch. 443, § 3; P.L. 1998, ch. 337, § 1; P.L.
2012, ch. 187, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 199, § 1.)
