Texas Health and Safety Code - HEALTH & SAFETY § 313.002. Definitions

(1) “Adult” means a person 18 years of age or older or a person under 18 years of age who has had the disabilities of minority removed.

(2) “Attending physician” means the physician with primary responsibility for a patient's treatment and care.

(3) “Decision-making capacity” means the ability to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of a decision regarding medical treatment and the ability to reach an informed decision in the matter.

(3-a) “Home and community support services agency” means a facility licensed under Chapter 142.

(4) “Hospital” means a facility licensed under Chapter 241.

(5) “Incapacitated” means lacking the ability, based on reasonable medical judgment, to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of a treatment decision, including the significant benefits and harms of and reasonable alternatives to any proposed treatment decision.

(6) “Medical treatment” means a health care treatment, service, or procedure designed to maintain or treat a patient's physical or mental condition, as well as preventative care.

(7) “Nursing home” means a facility licensed under Chapter 242.

(8) “Patient” means a person who:

(9) “Physician” means:

(10) “Surrogate decision-maker” means an individual with decision-making capacity who is identified as the person who has authority to consent to medical treatment on behalf of an incapacitated patient in need of medical treatment.