Article 1 of Law on the Practice of Medicine and Allied Health Professions

In applying the provisions of this Law, the following words and expressions shall have the meaning indicated opposite each of them: - Ministry: Ministry of Health. - Minister: Minister of Health. - Undersecretary: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health. - Profession: The medical profession and its allied professions. - Medical profession: The profession of human medicine or dentistry. - Physician: Any person holding a university degree from a faculty of human medicine or dentistry recognized and accredited by the competent authorities in the State. - Professions allied to the medical profession: Professions assisting and supporting the professions of human medicine and dentistry, in accordance with the provisions of this Law. - Patient: Any person receiving medical services or health care in accordance with the provisions of this Law. - Health facility: Any place designated and equipped to provide medical services or health care to individuals for the purpose of diagnosing, treating or preventing diseases, improving health, rehabilitation or convalescence. - Owner of a private health facility: Any natural or legal person licensed to establish, operate and manage the health facility. This shall not apply to health facilities owned by government entities. - Director of a private health facility: Any person licensed to practise the profession and authorized by the holder of the private health facility licence to manage it from a technical standpoint, who shall be responsible for that facility’s activities vis-à-vis third parties, in accordance with the controls determined by the Ministry. - Informed consent: Acceptance by the patient or the patient’s legal representative of the medical procedure required to be undertaken, after being informed and made aware of the nature of that procedure, in accordance with the provisions of this Law and its implementing decisions. - Medical file: A record containing the patient’s personal data and everything concerning the patient’s health condition and medical history, in which all medical procedures and services performed and provided to the patient are recorded. - Cosmetic procedures: Surgeries and interventions intended to improve a person’s appearance or physique based on that person’s desire and in accordance with Index of the Law 753 Home Page Law on the Practice of the Medical Profession and Allied Professions Law No. 70 of 2020 concerning the Practice of the Medical Profession and Its Allied Professions, Patients’ Rights and Health Facilities that person’s request, within what is permitted by medical principles and rules and their developments, and professional ethics and conduct. - Health Licensing Department: The competent department in the Ministry of Health for receiving all applications relating to licences to practise the profession and licences to establish, operate and manage health facilities, and any other duties set forth in this Law or any other law. Chapter Two Practice of the Profession