§ 23-6-11 Definitions. – As used in §§ 23-6-10 – 23-6-24:
(1) "AIDS" means the medical condition known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, caused by infection of an individual by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
(2) "HIV" means the human immunodeficiency virus, the pathogenic organism responsible for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
(3) "Informed consent form" means a standardized form provided by the Rhode Island department of health to those individuals offered HIV testing. The form shall be developed by the department and shall contain the following information:
(i) The public health rationale for HIV testing and information describing the nature of the HIV disease;
(ii) The availability and cost of HIV testing and counseling;
(iii) That test results are confidential with certain exceptions;
(iv) A list of exceptions to confidentiality of test results;
(v) That the test is voluntary and that an informed consent form must be signed before testing;
(vi) That by signing this form the person is only acknowledging that the HIV test and counseling have been offered and/or that he or she has declined (opted-out) the offer to be tested; and
(vii) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (v) and (vi) above, in the event an individual consents to anonymous testing, the HIV testing counselor and/or attending practitioner ordering the test shall receive only verbal confirmation from the client that the client understands all applicable information contained within the informed consent form.
(4) "HIV test" means any currently medically accepted diagnostic test for determining infection of an individual by HIV.
(5) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, or joint stock association, state or political subdivision or instrumentality of a state.
(6) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice allopathic or osteopathic medicine pursuant to the provisions of chapter 37 of title 5.
(7) "Services" means health care and social support services.
(8) "Occupational health representative" is an individual, within a health care facility, trained to respond to occupational, particularly blood borne, exposures.