reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 150 - Donations and Transplants (§§ 3601-3619 — 3620y) › § 3620u - Hospital protocol of the donor

Each hospital shall develop a hospital protocol of the donor to identify body, organs and tissue donors. It shall be the duty of the hospital administrator or his authorized representative upon notifying the death of a patient to inquire [of] his/her closest relative whether the deceased was an organ donor or if the latter had expressed the desire to be an organ donor before his/her death. If the deceased had not expressed his/her will to be an organ donor, the closest relative shall be informed of his/her option to donate all or part of the deceased’s body, which shall be used to extend or improve the quality of life of other persons.
The hospital protocol of the donor shall be completed in a discreet manner taking into consideration the circumstances of the family at the time.
The hospital administrator or his/her authorized representative shall refrain from requesting a donation when he/she is aware of the manifest will of the deceased not to be an organ donor or when aware of the opposition to donation of the next-of-kin.
When a hospital protocol of donor is completed pursuant [to] §§ 3620—3620y of this title, it shall be stated in the medical record and in the death certificate of the deceased.
The Board shall establish through regulations the content of the hospital protocol of the donor, the norms germane to the training of the hospital personnel that could be designated to request the donation and the procedures to be used for said request and completion of the hospital protocol of donor.
History —Dec. 25, 2002, No. 296, § 24.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 150 - Donations and Transplants (§§ 3601-3619 — 3620y) › § 3620v - Copy of the protocol

In the case the autopsy is performed in the same hospital where the death occurred, a copy of the autopsy protocol shall be remitted to the Board for its filing therein.
History —Dec. 25, 2002, No. 296, § 25.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 150 - Donations and Transplants (§§ 3601-3619 — 3620y) › § 3620w-1 - Donor registry

(a) The Board will be responsible for creating, developing, and maintaining an online organ, eye, and tissue donor registry, in which all anatomical gifts made in Puerto Rico shall be electronically recorded, allowing organ, eye, and tissue donors to register, as well as all organ, tissue, and eye donations submitted through the identification of the driver’s license issued by the Department of Transportation and Public Works, or other means.
(b) The Department of Transportation and Public Works, in collaboration with the Board, shall establish a vehicle to allow individuals to express their consent to be organ and tissue donors, as part of the process of issuing and renewing driver’s licenses. The Department of Transportation and Public Works shall coordinate with the person administering any donor registry established, contracted, or recognized by the Board, in order to transfer all relevant information collected by the Department related to anatomical gifts to the donor registry, in accordance with this chapter.
(c) The Donor Registry shall:
(1) Allow a donor or other person authorized under § 3620d of this title, to include a statement in the donor registry indicating that the donor has made or amended an anatomical gift.
(2) Allow donors to amend an anatomical gift. The Department of Transportation and Public Works shall update their records to reflect said amendment and the Department shall notify said amendment to the Donor Registry for the corresponding update.
(3) Be accessible to the Organ Recovery Organization to verify the existence of an entry for an anatomical gift in the registry at the donor’s time of death or near the donor’s or potential donor’s time of death.
(4) Be accessible, electronically or by phone, 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week, in order to fulfill the purposes of clauses (1) and (3) of this subsection.
(5) Be accessible through a security code, in order to protect the privacy and integrity of the information stored therein.
(d) Personally identifiable information of a donor stored in the registry may not be used or disclosed without the express consent of the donor or potential donor or person who made the anatomical gift, for any purpose other than to determine, at the time of death or near the death of the donor or potential donor, whether the donor or prospective donor has made an anatomical gift.
(e) This section does not prohibit anyone from creating or maintaining a donor registry that has not been established by a contract with the government. Any record of this nature shall comply with subsections (b) and (c).
(f) The Board shall have until January 1, 2016 to create and implement the electronic organ, eye, and tissue donor registry.
History —Dec. 25, 2002, No. 296, added as § 27 on Mar. 4, 2011, No. 26, § 1; May 15, 2012, No. 85, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 150 - Donations and Transplants (§§ 3601-3619 — 3620y) › § 3620x - Penalties

Any person who violates the provisions of §§ 3620—3620y of this title or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder shall incur a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than thirty (30) days nor more than six (6) months or with a penalty of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or both penalties at the discretion of the court.
History —Dec. 25, 2002, No. 296, § 27.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 150 - Donations and Transplants (§§ 3601-3619 — 3620y) › § 3620y - Budget

The sums needed for the implementation and operation of §§ 3620—3620y of this title shall be consigned in the corresponding item to the University of Puerto Rico Medical Science campus from the general budget for the University of Puerto Rico.
Likewise, and in order to provide the recurrent funds needed to implement §§ 3620—3620y of this title, Act No. 153 of August 20, 1996, is hereby rendered ineffective in all its provisions and in particular in that which refers to the collection of a fee of one dollar for every renewal, issue and application for any type of driver’s license.
In order to provide the recurrent funds needed for the implementation of §§ 3620—3620y of this title, the collection of one dollar for the fee to be paid for the issue and renewal of a driver’s license initiated by virtue of Act No. 153 of August 20, 1996, shall be continued in order to comply with the provisions of §§ 3620—3620y of this title. The remainder from the funds collected by virtue of Act No. 153, supra, in the custody of the Human Tissues and Organs Donations and Transplants Coordinating Board at the time of the approval of this act shall be transferred to the corresponding item of the Human Bodies, Organs and Tissues Disposal Board, as well as all documents required for the implementation thereof.
History —Dec. 25, 2002, No. 296, § 28.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3651 - Definitions

The following terms shall have the meaning set forth hereinbelow:
(a) Person of legal age. — Any person that is twenty-one (21) years of age.
(b) Medical treatment. — Any type of medical treatment, procedure or intervention administered to a patient to sustain, restore or establish vital functions of a patient with the sole purpose of delaying the time of death artificially, when according to the best judgment of the physician, death is imminent regardless of whether such procedures are used. These procedures include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, diagnostic tests, dialysis, medications, respirators, surgery and invasive diagnostic procedures, blood transfusions and blood-derived products, among others.
(c) Terminal health condition. — An incurable, medically diagnosed terminal and irreversible illness or health condition, which according to the best judgment of the physician shall cause the death of the patient within a term of not more than six (6) months.
(d) Persistent vegetative state. — Any health condition that prevents the patient to express his/her will due to a state of unconsciousness in which there is no cortical or cognizant brain function and for which no real possibility of recovery exists, according to established medical guidelines.
(e) Physician. — Medical physician licensed and admitted to the practice of medicine in the Commonwealth Puerto Rico, who has the primary responsibility for the medical care of the patient-declarant.
(f) Health care institution. — Any natural or juridical person, licensed, certified or otherwise authorized by the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to provide health services in their ordinary course of business or the practice of their profession.
(g) Declarant. — Any person who has issued a statement of their will, as provided in § 3652 of this title.
(h) Witness. — Any person who can appear as a competent witness, as provided in §§ 2001 et seq. of Title 4, known as the “Puerto Rico Notarial Act”.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3652 - Right to advanced statement of will

Any person of legal age and of sound mind may state, in advance and at any time, his/her will to be submitted or not to a specific medical treatment in the event of suffering a terminal health condition or a persistent vegetative state that would prevent him/her from expressing at the time [sic] said medical treatments should be administered or not, according to the person’s express will. Such a statement may include the designation of an executor to make the decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of treatment in the event that the declarant is unable to communicate. If the declarant does not designate an executor, the closest, eldest relative of legal age, according to the order of succession established in the Civil Code of Puerto Rico, as amended, with the spouse of the declarant being first in rank, shall be deemed the executor. However, no declarant shall prohibit that such available medical resources be administered in such a situation to relieve pain or to hydrate and feed him/her, unless death is imminent and/or the body can no longer absorb the nutrients and hydration that is administered.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3653 - Statement of will

The statement of will authorized herein shall meet the following requirements:
(a) It shall contain the express will of the declarant ordering the physician or health service institution that keeps him/her under its care and attend to his/her bodily needs while the declarant is suffering a terminal health condition or a persistent vegetative state, to abstain from submitting him/her to any or a specific medical treatment that can only artificially prolong the imminent process of death. Likewise, it may state any other order pertaining to his/her medical care, whose viability shall be professionally evaluated by the physicians in charge of his/her treatment.
(b) It shall be in writing, signed and sworn before a notary public by means of a document or testimony, or before a person authorized to authenticate signatures in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, who shall state therein the fact of having determined with the declarant the voluntary nature of said statement. Likewise, the declarant may make said statements in the presence of a physician and two (2) other competent witnesses who are not heirs of the declarant, and who do not participate in the direct care of the patient.
(c) The considered opinion of the authenticator and the witnesses shall be stated in the document that certifies said will, as well as the date, time [and] place of the execution of the statement.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3654 - Notification

It shall be the duty of the declarant to notify the physician and the health services institution of the existence of his/her statement and deliver a copy thereof to each. If the declarant falls into a persistent vegetative state or is incapable of communicating on his/her own, one (1) of the witnesses referred to in subsection (b) of § 3653 of this title, or an executor designated by the declarant shall notify the physician. Once notified, the physician shall immediately include a copy of said statement in the medical record of the declarant.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3655 - Execution

The statement of will prepared pursuant to § 3652 of this title shall be executable once the declarant is diagnosed with a terminal health condition or falls into a persistent vegetative state.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3656 - Revocation

The statement of will recognized in § 3652 of this title may be revoked in its totality at any time by the declarant through a written or verbal statement for said purpose. When the revocation is made in writing, it shall contain the date of issue, the express will to revoke the provisions set forth in the statement of will, and the signature of the declarant. The physician shall attach said revocation to the medical record and shall make it a part thereof. The physician shall likewise notify the health care institution in which the declarant is admitted, if any.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3657 - Modification

The modification of the statement of will recognized in § 3652 of this title shall only be done through the same means and with the same requirements established in § 3653 of this title for the modified statement of will to be valid.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3658 - Pregnant woman

In the event that the declarant is a pregnant woman and as such suffers a terminal health condition, the statement of will authorized in § 3652 of this title shall remain ineffective until the pregnancy has ended.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3659 - Civil or criminal liability

The physician and the health services institution that admits the patient shall faithfully comply with the stated will of the declarant, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. A violation of the provisions of this chapter by the physicians or health service institutions responsible for the care of the declarant shall entail the corresponding obligation to compensate the parties thus affected for damages. No physician, health service institution or other person acting under the orders of a physician shall be subject to civil or criminal liability for enforcing the provisions of this chapter.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3660 - Quality of basic health care

The exercise of the rights recognized in this chapter shall not in any manner affect the quality of basic health care, including but not limited to, hygiene, comfort and safety that shall be provided to ensure respect of human dignity and the quality of life until the moment of death.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3661 - Insurance

The exercise of the rights recognized in this chapter shall not, in any manner, affect the procedures for the request, sale or adjudication of any life insurance or health insurance policy. No life insurance policy shall be cancelled, annulled or adversely affected in any manner that is prejudicial to the insured due to the granting or execution of the statement of will authorized in § 3652 of this title, made by an insured declarant, regardless of any policy term to the contrary.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3662 - Euthanasia—Prohibition

This chapter does not authorize the practice of euthanasia or mercy killing.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 152 - Terminal Health Condition; Advanced Statement of Will Regarding Treatment (§§ 3651 — 3663) › § 3663 - Provisions of Civil Code

The provisions of the Civil Code of Puerto Rico on mandates shall constitute suppletory rights to the provisions of this chapter.
History —Nov. 17, 2001, No. 160, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3671 - Definitions

The following words and terms, whenever used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the meaning set forth below unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Statements in the present tense also include the future, and those made in the masculine gender include the feminine gender, except in those cases in which such an interpretation would render the text absurd. The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.
(1) Medical Emergency Corps. — Means the Medical Emergency Corps of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(2) Director. — Means the Executive Director of the Medical Emergency Corps of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(3) Department. — Means the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(4) Medical emergency. — Means an unforeseeable health condition which calls for medical assistance or pre-hospital medical care and transportation to an adequate medical hospital or first aid facility to preserve health or reduce the possibility of permanent damage or disability which may arise as a consequence of an illness or an accident.
(5) Health facilities. — Means those facilities identified and defined as such by §§ 331—333p of this title, known as the “Puerto Rico Facilities Act”, or by the provisions of any future legislation on this matter.
(6) Person. — Means any natural person.
(7) Police. — Means the Puerto Rico Police.
(8) Health professional. — Means any practitioner who is duly admitted, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations, to practice any of the professions within the field of health and medical care, including but not limited to surgeons, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and medical technologists as authorized by the corresponding laws of Puerto Rico.
(9) Provider. — Means any person or entity authorized by the laws of Puerto Rico to render or provide medical hospital health care services in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(10) Secretary. — Means the Secretary of Health of the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(11) Medical Emergency Technician. — Means a person authorized by the Secretary of Health and trained in the various phases of medical emergency technology, including but not limited to communications, emergency care for patients, maintenance of work equipment, emergency room techniques and procedures, patient handling and transportation, knowledge about procedures used in obstetrics, and assistance in respiratory and cardiac emergencies.
(12) Medical Emergency Technician —Paramedic (M.E.T.-P). — Means the professional authorized by the Secretary of Health who has satisfactorily completed a medical emergency technician course for paramedics.
(13) Medical Emergency Technician —Basic. — Means the professional authorized by the Secretary of Health who has satisfactorily completed a basic medical emergency technician course.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3672 - Creation

The “Medical Emergency Corps” of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby created, to be attached to the Department of Health, to be fiscally and administratively independent. The Medical Emergency Corps of Puerto Rico shall be responsible for guaranteeing for citizens in general a top quality service when unforeseeably a health condition calls for pre-hospital medical care and transportation to an adequate medical hospital or a first aid facility in order to preserve health or to reduce the possibility of permanent damage or disability that could arise as a consequence of an illness or an accident.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3673 - Authorities and powers—Responsibilities

The Medical Emergency Corps shall have the powers that are necessary and convenient to meet the purposes and comply with the provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to the following:
(a) Adopt, alter and use the official seal of the Medical Emergency Corps of Puerto Rico.
(b) Lease or sublet personal and real property for its own use.
(c) Enter into compacts and agreements with departments, agencies, corporations, entities and municipalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, of the various states of the Union, and of the Government of the United States, as well as with private institutions, whether nonprofit or for profit, when it is determined that the same are necessary to meet the objectives of this chapter.
(d) Procure, accept and receive from any source, donations or assistance such as money, property or services pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
(e) The Medical Emergency Corps shall have the authority to generate its own resources and to collect from third parties for services rendered. Moneys thus collected shall be covered into the Medical Emergency Corps Fund in compensation for operational costs incurred. Funds collected under this provision shall be used pursuant to the priorities established by the Executive Director to supplement compensation for the personnel or to improve the services and facilities of the Medical Emergency Corps.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3674 - Authorities and powers—Responsibilities of the Secretary

Under this chapter, the Secretary shall have the following functions and powers:
(a) To advise the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Legislature when formulating and implementing the public policy relative to a medical emergency system in Puerto Rico.
(b) To coordinate with the Executive Director in terms of the assignment of personnel from the Department of Health to the Medical Emergency Corps and vice versa on the basis of criteria which propitiate the most efficient use of human resources, without affecting the functions entrusted by law to the Medical Emergency Corps.
(c) To approve and promulgate jointly with the Executive Director the regulations that are to govern medical emergency services in Puerto Rico and ensure compliance therewith.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3676 - Bylaws

The Executive Director is hereby directed to adopt bylaws as necessary for the internal operation of the Medical Emergency Corps and for the implementation of the provisions of this chapter.
Bylaws approved by the Executive Director under this chapter must comply with the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico”.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3677 - Responsibilities

The Executive Director, his/her representatives, administrators, persons in charge o[f] occupying land plots, buildings or structures subject to the provisions of this chapter or the regulations or orders, resolutions or decisions issued thereunder, shall be responsible for enforcing and complying with the provisions of this chapter and its regulations or with the orders, resolutions or decisions of the Executive Director, respectively.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3678 - Car fleet

The Executive Director is hereby empowered to administer the car fleet of the agency. He/she shall be fully responsible for buying, maintaining and repairing the car fleet of the agency. He/she may also organize repair shops or contract with private shops for the maintenance and repair of the units in service and of all those acquired in the future. The Executive Director shall adopt the regulations that have been established for these purposes by the General Services Administration of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and shall be strictly governed by the fiscal norms of the Department of the Treasury.
The Medical Emergency Corps is hereby exempted from the provisions of §§ 931 et seq. of Title 3, the General Services Administration Organic Act, in matters relative to procurement procedures, subject to the development and implementation of the corresponding regulations and procedures.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 11.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3679 - Uniform and equipment

The Executive Director shall determine by regulation the clothing and insignias that are to constitute the official uniform of the Medical Emergency Corps of Puerto Rico. All articles of clothing and the uniform and equipment prescribed shall be supplied to the members of the Corps at the expense of the Government. Provided, That the uniform shall be understood to be the jacket, shirt, tie, pants, socks, boots, shoes, cap, cape, safety helmet, gloves and insignias which Corps members are under the obligation to wear pursuant to regulations and according to the work they are to perform. Appropriations for the purchase of uniforms and equipment shall be consigned annually in the budget of the agency.
It is hereby prohibited to use the uniform or a combination of the aforementioned articles of clothing by any person who is not a member of the Medical Emergency Corps of Puerto Rico. Any person who violates the prohibition provided herein shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of not less than thirty (30) days nor greater than six (6) months or by a fine of not less than three hundred dollars ($300) nor greater than five hundred dollars ($500), or by both penalties, at the discretion of the court.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3680 - Funds

Funds received by the Medical Emergency Corps of Puerto Rico under this chapter shall be deposited in a special account to be known as the “Special Fund of the Medical Emergency Corps of Puerto Rico”. Said Fund shall be established by the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in favor of the Executive Director, who shall use the same to comply with the objectives of this chapter.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 153 - Medical Emergency Corps (§§ 3671 — 3681) › § 3681 - Effectiveness of agreements, compacts and others

No provision of this chapter shall be construed to modify, alter or invalidate any agreement, compact or claim in effect as of the date of approval of this act and during the transfer period.
History —Sept. 30, 2004, No. 539, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 154 - Labor, Childbirth and Post-partum Partner Act (§§ 3691 — 3696) › § 3691 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings expressed below:
(a) Partners during the childbirth phases. — Person or persons freely chosen by the woman in labor to accompany or assist her during the various phases of childbirth, among which are: mothers, fathers, relatives, friends with or without training, or persons trained in comfort measures during labor (a labor assistant, a doula, etc.)
(b) Maternity services center. — Includes labor rooms, obstetrics preparation or recovery rooms or any place in which women are cared for during the process of gestation, childbirth and post-partum and that have the pertinent permits issued by the agencies of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with competence over the matter.
(c) Child born in a risk situation. — Any child that is born with any critical health condition, including, but not limited to: premature birth, congenital anomalies, respiratory conditions, congenital cardiac conditions, prolonged childbirth, babies born to HIV positive mothers or any sexually transmitted disease and babies born to mothers addicted to controlled substances, when the newborn may present withdrawal symptoms or other related conditions.
(d) Health professional. — All medical personnel (gynecologists, nurses, nurse-midwives) authorized to practice gynecology or obstetrics in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —Aug. 10, 2006, No. 156, § 2, eff. 6 months after Aug. 10, 2006.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 154 - Labor, Childbirth and Post-partum Partner Act (§§ 3691 — 3696) › § 3693 - Rights of newborns

All newborns have the right to:
(a) Be treated in a respectful and dignified manner.
(b) Not to be submitted to any examination or intervention research or teaching purposes, unless express written consent is given by the child’s father and mother with patria potestas.
(c) To have accommodations together with the mother, provided that the newborn does not require special care and when the hospital has the necessary facilities to provide said accommodations.
(d) To have the parents receive adequate advice and information as to the care for the growth and development of the child.
History —Aug. 10, 2006, No. 156, § 4, eff. 6 months after Aug. 10, 2006.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 154 - Labor, Childbirth and Post-partum Partner Act (§§ 3691 — 3696) › § 3694 - Rights of parents

The father and mother of a child born in a risk situation shall have the following rights:
(a) To obtain sufficient and continuous easy to understand information in an adequate environment about the process or evolution of the health of their child, including diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
(b) To have continued access to their child while the clinical situation allows, as well as participate in the care and decision-making with respect to the [newborn’s] care.
(c) To obtain specific information about the examinations or interventions to which the newborn may be submitted for research or teaching purposes, so that they may give their express consent in writing.
(d) To enable the newborn to be breastfed, provided there is no urgent condition to prevent it.
(e) To receive advice and information about the special care of the child if so required.
History —Aug. 10, 2006, No. 156, § 5, eff. 6 months after Aug. 10, 2006.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 154 - Labor, Childbirth and Post-partum Partner Act (§§ 3691 — 3696) › § 3695 - Responsibility of Department of Health

The Department of Health of Puerto Rico shall be responsible for the disclosure of this chapter in all public or private hospitals, labor rooms, obstetrics preparation or recovery rooms or any place in which women are cared for during the process of gestation and childbirth.
History —Aug. 10, 2006, No. 156, § 6, eff. 6 months after Aug. 10, 2006.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 154 - Labor, Childbirth and Post-partum Partner Act (§§ 3691 — 3696) › § 3696 - Complaints; fines

The Office of the Women’s Advocate is hereby empowered to receive, handle and settle complaints filed for violations of the rights established in this chapter. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall entail a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500), nor of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
History —Aug. 10, 2006, No. 156, § 7, eff. 6 months after Aug. 10, 2006.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 155 - Act to Require Installation of Defibrillators (§§ 3701 — 3709) › Subchapter I - Government Entities (§§ 3701 — 3705) › § 3701 - Obligation

Every public agency, corporation or instrumentality, and the municipalities are hereby required to have a defibrillator in their facilities at all times while an activity is taking place or while rendering services to the public when there are more than two hundred (200) persons present. Furthermore, it shall be the responsibility of the Commonwealth and municipal authorities, and the lessees of the establishments defined in § 3702(3) of this title to properly train their employees on the operation of said equipment. Through this chapter, public access to defibrillation is established for those persons who need it.
History —July 30, 2007, No. 85, § 2; Oct. 26, 2009, No. 133, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 155 - Act to Require Installation of Defibrillators (§§ 3701 — 3709) › Subchapter I - Government Entities (§§ 3701 — 3705) › § 3702 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, except where the context indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meaning stated below:
(1) Defibrillation. — Means the emergency treatment for the management of ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest.
(2) Automated external defibrillator. — Means the portable device used to electrically stimulate a fibrillating heart. It consist of a two (2) electrode mechanism that is directly applied on the person’s thorax, through which an electrical shock with special characteristics is delivered, and, if applied shortly after a cardiac arrest, it would be highly probable that it will restore the lost normal heart rhythm.
(3) Establishments. — Means those places whose administrators are public or private entities operating a facility through a contract with the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a municipality, which shall install automated external defibrillators, according to the capacity of the place for the flow of persons or their stay therein, including without being limited to the following:
(a) Ground, sea, or air transportation terminals with capacity for more than one thousand (1000) persons shall have a minimum of two (2) automated external defibrillators.
(b) Public stadiums or sports centers with capacity for more than one thousand (1000) persons shall have a minimum of one (1) automated external defibrillator.
(c) Public show and entertainment facilities with capacity for more than five hundred (500) persons shall have a minimum of one (1) automated external defibrillator.
(d) Conference, seminar rooms or trade shows of the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its instrumentalities or municipalities with capacity for more than five hundred (500) persons shall have a minimum of one (1) automated external defibrillator.
History —July 30, 2007, No. 85, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 155 - Act to Require Installation of Defibrillators (§§ 3701 — 3709) › Subchapter I - Government Entities (§§ 3701 — 3705) › § 3703 - Immediate use in case of emergency

To allow the right referred to in § 3701 of this title, the immediate use of an automated external defibrillator is hereby required established in every cardiovascular emergency that occurs in any of the places established in this chapter.
History —July 30, 2007, No. 85, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 155 - Act to Require Installation of Defibrillators (§§ 3701 — 3709) › Subchapter I - Government Entities (§§ 3701 — 3705) › § 3704 - Regulations

(a) The Secretary of Health is hereby empowered to adopt the necessary regulations to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to determine through regulations which public agencies, corporations and instrumentalities shall require the installation of automated external defibrillators and the location thereof. In the case of the municipalities, the places and events shall require the installation of automated external defibrillators according to their particular needs shall be determined through regulations.
(b) The Secretary of the Department of Health shall prepare and adopt regulations pursuant to the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedure Act” no later than one hundred and eighty (180) days after the approval of this act, for the enforcement thereof and he/she shall be further empowered to imposed penalties for noncompliance therewith.
History —July 30, 2007, No. 85, §§ 5, 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 155 - Act to Require Installation of Defibrillators (§§ 3701 — 3709) › Subchapter I - Government Entities (§§ 3701 — 3705) › § 3705 - Funds

(a) To attain the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary of the Department of Health and the heads of the concerned agencies and instrumentalities, as well as the municipalities are hereby empowered to request, receive, match and administer Commonwealth, federal and municipal funds and receive donations from private and public funds for such purposes.
(b) The concerned agencies and instrumentalities shall consign in their Operating Expenses Budget for Fiscal Year 2007—2008, the necessary funds for the implementation of this chapter.
History —July 30, 2007, No. 85, §§ 7, 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 155 - Act to Require Installation of Defibrillators (§§ 3701 — 3709) › Subchapter II - Private Institutions (§§ 3706 — 3709) › § 3706 - Public policy

It is hereby established as the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to recognize the right of the citizenry to the enjoyment of life and to the improvement of their quality of life. Pursuant to said public policy, every private establishment engaged in receiving or rendering services to people shall have at least one (1) automated defibrillator for the use of its visitors, clientele or employees.
History —Aug. 1, 2008, No. 141, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 155 - Act to Require Installation of Defibrillators (§§ 3701 — 3709) › Subchapter II - Private Institutions (§§ 3706 — 3709) › § 3707 - Definitions

For the purposes of this subchapter, except where the context indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meaning stated below:
(1) Defibrillation. — Means the emergency treatment for the management of ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest.
(2) Automated external defibrillator. — Means the portable device used to electrically stimulate a fibrillating heart. It consists of a two (2)-electrode mechanism that is directly applied on the person’s thorax, through which an electrical shock with special characteristics is delivered, and, if applied shortly after a cardiac arrest, it would be highly likely that it will restore the lost normal heart rhythm.
(3) Private establishments. — Means those places where automated external defibrillators shall be installed according to the capacity of the place for the influx or permanence of persons, including but not limited to the following:
(a) Private schools.
(b) Stadiums and private sports centers with a capacity of more than five hundred (500) persons shall have at least one (1) automated external defibrillator.
(c) Private show and entertainment establishments with a capacity of more than five hundred (500) persons shall have at least one (1) automated external defibrillator.
(d) Private universities and conference, seminar or exhibition halls of a private nature with a capacity of more than five hundred (500) persons shall have at least one (1) automated external defibrillator.
(e) Industries, factories, shopping malls, hotels, inns and any other private enterprise with the capacity to lodge, receive or serve more than two hundred and fifty (250) persons shall have at least one (1) automated external defibrillator.
History —Aug. 1, 2008, No. 141, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 155 - Act to Require Installation of Defibrillators (§§ 3701 — 3709) › Subchapter II - Private Institutions (§§ 3706 — 3709) › § 3708 - Training of human resources who administer defibrillator

The Department of Health, in coordination with the personnel in charge of the private establishment, shall be responsible for the training of the human resources who shall administer the defibrillators, who shall be at least three (3) persons. The Department of Health, through regulations, may compel the use of the automated defibrillator in the establishments indicated in this subchapter if the medical urgency or need should so require, as well as increase or reduce the capacity of persons in these establishments to require the use of the defibrillators. Provided, That all private establishments and their agents and employees shall be covered under the provisions of Act No. 139 of June 3, 1976, as amended, known as the “Good Samaritan Act”, and be protected from liability for damages that their actions or omissions may cause when providing first aid services or assistance in emergency situations in which the use of a defibrillator on any person is warranted.
The Secretary of Labor and Human Resources shall be empowered to oversee and require compliance with this provision and shall set forth by regulation, the precautions that shall be observed in such instances described above.
History —Aug. 1, 2008, No. 141, § 3; Dec. 23, 2009, No. 196, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FOUR - Health and Sanitation (§§ 1 — 15010) › PART VII - Hospitals, Institutions and Health Programs (§§ 3001 — 3891) › Chapter 155 - Act to Require Installation of Defibrillators (§§ 3701 — 3709) › Subchapter II - Private Institutions (§§ 3706 — 3709) › § 3709 - Regulations

The Secretary of the Department of Health shall draft and adopt regulations pursuant to the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”, not later than one hundred and eighty (180) days after the approval of this act for the enforcement thereof, and shall establish penalties for violations of the same.
History —Aug. 1, 2008, No. 141, § 4.