Section 146-15-1 - Purpose and DefinitionsA.Purpose. This major substantive rule implements 22 MRS chapter 418, the Maine Death with Dignity Act (Act), and specifies the Department's authority to collect and use information related to patient-directed care at the end of life. B.Definitions. As used in this rule, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings: 1.Act means the Maine Death with Dignity Act, 22 MRS Chapter 418.2.Attending physician means the physician who has primary responsibility for the care of a patient and the treatment of that patient's terminal disease.3.Competent means that, in the opinion of a court or in the opinion of the patient's attending physician or consulting physician, psychiatrist or psychologist, a patient has the ability to make and communicate an informed decision to health care providers, including communication through persons familiar with the patient's manner of communicating, if those persons are available.4.Consulting physician means a physician who is qualified by specialty or experience to make a professional diagnosis and prognosis regarding a patient's disease.5.Department means the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC).6.Form means a form prescribed by the Department that the Department requires to be completed for purposes of compliance with this rule. Forms that are missing required signatures, dates or information will not be considered valid or acceptable.7.Life-ending medication means the medication prescribed or dispensed by a licensed healthcare provider in accordance with the Act to be self-administered by the qualified patient suffering from a terminal disease to end the qualified patient's life in a humane and dignified manner.8.Physician means a doctor of medicine or osteopathy licensed pursuant to 32 MRS chapter 48 or 36.9.Qualified patient means a competent adult who is a resident of this State and who has satisfied the requirements of the Act in order to obtain a prescription for medication that the qualified patient may self-administer to end the qualified patient's life in a humane and dignified manner.10-146 C.M.R. ch. 15, § 1