Alabama § 22-8B-3 - Definitions.

§ 22-8B-3. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) AID IN DYING. The act of a person providing the means or manner for another person to be able to commit suicide, with actual knowledge that the person deliberately intends on committing suicide by that means or manner.

(2) ARTIFICIALLY PROVIDED NUTRITIONAL HYDRATION. A medical treatment consisting of the administration of food and water through a tube or intravenous line, where the recipient is not required to chew or swallow voluntarily. Artificially provided nutrition and hydration does not include assisted feeding, such as spoon or bottle feeding.

(3) DELIBERATELY. More than knowing the consequences of an act or action; meaning to consider carefully; done on purpose; intentional; requiring premeditation; with intent to cause the death of a person.

(4) HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. Any individual who may be asked to participate in any way in a health care service, including, but not limited to, a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse, nurse’s aide, medical assistant, hospital employee, clinic employee, nursing home employee, pharmacist, pharmacy employee, researcher, medical or nursing school faculty member, student, or employee, counselor, social worker, or any professional, paraprofessional, or any other person who furnishes or assists in the furnishing of health care services.

(5) LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT. Any medical treatment, procedure, or intervention that, in the judgment of the attending physician, when applied to the patient, would serve only to prolong the dying process where the patient has a terminal illness or injury, or would serve only to maintain the patient in a condition of permanent unconsciousness. These procedures include, but are not limited to, assisted ventilation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, renal dialysis, surgical procedures, blood transfusions, and the administration of drugs and antibiotics. Life-sustaining treatment does not include the administration of medication or the performance of any medical treatment where, in the opinion of the attending physician, the medication or treatment is necessary to provide comfort or to alleviate pain.

(6) PERSON. Any natural person, and when appropriate, an organization, to include all of the following:

a. A public or private corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, or joint-stock company.

b. Government or a governmental instrumentality.

c. A foundation, institution, society, union, club, or church.

(7) PHYSICIAN. A person licensed to practice medicine in the state, including medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy.

(8) SUICIDE. The act or instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally.