P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 3651
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.