Sec. 87.001. DEFINITIONS

In this chapter:

(1) "Birth defect" means a physical or mental functional deficit or impairment in a human embryo, fetus, or newborn resulting from one or more genetic or environmental causes.

(2) "Communicable disease" has the meaning assigned by Section 81.003.

(3) Repealed by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 8.134, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

(4) "Environmental causes" means the sum total of all the conditions and elements that make up the surroundings and influence the development of an individual.

(5) "Harmful physical agent" has the meaning assigned by Section 503.001.

(6) "Health professional" means an individual whose:

(A) vocation or profession is directly or indirectly related to the maintenance of health in another individual; and

(B) duties require a specified amount of formal education and may require a special examination, certificate, or license or membership in a regional or national association.

(7) "Health facility" includes:

(A) a general or special hospital licensed by the department under Chapter 241;

(B) a physician-owned or physician-operated clinic;

(C) a publicly or privately funded medical school;

(D) a state hospital or state school maintained and managed by the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation;

(E) a genetic evaluation and counseling center;

(F) a public health clinic conducted by a local health unit, health department, or public health district organized and recognized under Chapter 121;

(G) a physician peer review organization; and

(H) another facility specified by board rule.

(8) "Midwife" has the meaning assigned by Section 203.002, Occupations Code.

(9) "Local health unit" has the meaning assigned by Section 121.004.

(10) "Toxic substance" has the meaning assigned by Section 503.001.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 602, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 8.134, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.774, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.