§ 5-37.4-2. Definitions. For purposes of this chapter:
(1) "Director" means the director of the department of health of the state of Rhode Island.
(2) "Intractable pain" means a pain state that persists beyond the usual course of an acute disease or healing of an injury or results from a chronic disease or condition that causes continuous or intermittent pain over a period of months or years.
(3) "Practitioner" means healthcare professionals licensed to distribute, dispense, or administer controlled substances in the course of professional practice as defined in § 21-28-1.02(41).
(4) "Therapeutic purpose" means the use of controlled substances for the treatment of pain in appropriate doses as indicated by the patient's medical record. Any other use is nontherapeutic.
History of Section. (P.L. 1997, ch. 83, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 46, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 93, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 104, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 2.)