W. Va. Code § 16-30C-3 — WV Code / Chapter 16 / Article 30C / Section 3
§16-30C-3. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Attending physician" means the physician selected by or assigned to the person who has primary responsibility for treatment or care of the person and who is a licensed physician. If more than one physician shares that responsibility, any of those physicians may act as the attending physician under the provisions of this article.

(b) "Cardiopulmonary resuscitation" means those measures used to restore or support cardiac or respiratory function in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest.

(c) "Do-not-resuscitate identification" means a standardized identification necklace, bracelet, card or physician orders for scope of treatment form as set forth in this article that signifies that a do-not-resuscitate order has been issued for the possessor.

(d) "Do-not-resuscitate order" means an order issued by a licensed physician that cardiopulmonary resuscitation should not be administered to a particular person.

(e) "Emergency medical services personnel" means paid or volunteer firefighters, law-enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics or other emergency services personnel, providers or entities acting within the usual course of their professions.

(f) "Health care decision" means a decision to give, withhold or withdraw informed consent to any type of health care, including, but not limited to, medical and surgical treatments, including life-prolonging interventions, nursing care, hospitalization, treatment in a nursing home or other extended care facility, home health care and the gift or donation of a body organ or tissue.

(g) "Health care facility" means a facility established to administer and provide health care services and which is commonly known by a wide variety of titles, including, but not limited to, hospitals, medical centers, ambulatory health care facilities, physicians' offices and clinics, extended care facilities operated in connection with hospitals, nursing homes and extended care facilities operated in connection with rehabilitation centers.

(h) "Health care provider" means any physician, dentist, nurse, paramedic, psychologist or other person providing medical, dental, nursing, psychological or other health care services of any kind.

(i) "Home" means any place of residence other than a health care facility and includes residential board and care homes and personal care homes.

(j) "Incapacity" or words of like import means the inability because of physical or mental impairment, to appreciate the nature and implications of a health care decision, to make an informed choice regarding the alternatives presented and to communicate that choice in an unambiguous manner.

(k) "Physician orders for scope of treatment (POST) form" means a standardized form containing orders by a qualified physician that details a person's life-sustaining wishes as provided by section twenty-five, article thirty of this chapter.

(l) "Qualified physician" means a physician licensed to practice medicine who has personally examined the person.

(m) "Representative" means a person designated by a principal to make health care decisions in accordance with article thirty-a of this chapter.

(n) "Surrogate decision maker" or "surrogate" means an individual eighteen years of age or older who is reasonably available, is willing to make health care decisions on behalf of an incapacitated person, possesses the capacity to make health care decisions and is identified or selected by the attending physician or advanced nurse practitioner in accordance with applicable provisions of article thirty of this chapter as the person or persons who is to make decisions pursuant to this article: Provided, That a representative named in the incapacitated person's medical power of attorney, if such document has been completed, shall have priority over a surrogate decision maker.

(o) "Trauma" means blunt or penetrating bodily injuries from impact which occur in situations, including, but not limited to, motor vehicle collisions, mass casualty incidents and industrial accidents.