P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 3111
The following terms, as used in this chapter, shall have the meaning stated hereinbelow:
(a) Medical emergency. — Shall mean that health condition in which immediate medical assistance or first aid is unexpectedly required in order to preserve the health or reduce the damage or disability which could arise from a car accident, or an accident of any other nature, or from an illness.
(b) Labor. — Means labor at the moment in which delivery is imminent or when there is not enough time to carry out the transfer safely to another hospital before the delivery, or the transfer of the woman in labor could constitute a threat to the health and safety of the woman in labor or the baby.
(c) Stabilize. — Means to provide, within a medical emergency condition whatever medical treatment is necessary to ensure (within a reasonable medical probability) that no substantial worsening of the condition will result from the transfer of the patient from one facility to another.
(d) Stabilized. — Means that no substantial worsening of the condition will result (within a reasonable medical probability) from the transfer of the patient from one facility to another.
(e) Transfer. — Means moving a patient (including check-out) out of the facilities of a hospital by order of any person employed by, or directly or indirectly affiliated to or associated with, the hospital. It also means moving a patient from his/her home or from the site of an accident or incident to the nearest hospital facility capable of stabilizing or treating his/her condition. It does not include the transfer of a patient who has been pronounced as deceased or who leaves the hospital without the authorization of any of the aforementioned persons.
(f) Responsible physician. — Means a physician who is employed or contracted by a hospital, or who is associated with or affiliated to the hospital and who, acting as such, is professionally responsible for examining, ordering tests or administering treatment to a patient, or for authorizing his/her transfer to another facility.
(g) Anti Dumping Act. — Means the act adopted by the Federal Health Care Financing Administration.
History —June 28, 1994, No. 35, § 1, eff. 60 days after June 28, 1994.