Guam § 91102 - Definitions.

§ 91102. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

COL092507

(a) Anticipated Death means a death caused by life-limiting illness,

infirmity, or disease, as certified by the attending physician that he

discussed a prognosis of terminal condition with the patient and the

patient’s family, and that the patient consented to a ‘No Resuscitation’ order

or has executed a Declaration or an Advanced Directive to that effect.

(b) Attending physician means the physician who has primary

responsibility for the treatment and care of the patient.

(c) Declaration means a writing executed in accordance with the

requirements of subdivision (a) of § 91103.

(d) Health care provider means a person who is licensed, certified, or

otherwise authorized by the laws of this Territory to administer health care

in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.

(e) Life-sustaining treatment means any medical procedure or

intervention that, when administered to a qualified patient, will serve only

to prolong the process of dying or an irreversible coma or persistent

vegetative state. Life-sustaining treatment shall not include the

administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure

deemed necessary to alleviate pain or for nutrition or hydration.

(f) Permanent unconscious condition means an incurable and

irreversible condition that, within reasonable medical judgment, renders the

patient in an irreversible coma or persistent vegetative state.

(g) Person means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate,

trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental

subdivision or agency, or any other legal or commercial entity.

(h) Physician means an individual licensed to practice medicine in the

Territory of Guam.

(i) Qualified patient means a patient 18 or more years of age who has

executed a declaration and who has been diagnosed and certified in writing

by the attending physician and a second physician who has personally

examined the patient to be in a terminal condition or permanent

unconscious condition.

(j) State means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia,

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory or insular possession

subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

COL092507

(k) Terminal condition means an incurable and irreversible condition

that, without the administration of life-sustaining treatment, will, within

reasonable medical judgment, result in death within a relatively short time.