Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-4.10-1.1. Definitions

(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 attorney” 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.