2009 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 24 - Health and Safety.
Article 2D - Pain Relief
Section 24-2D-2 - Definitions.

24-2D-2. Definitions.

As used in the Pain Relief Act [24-2D-1 NMSA 1978]:

A.     "accepted guideline" means a care or practice guideline for pain management developed by a national joint commission on accreditation of health care organizations; the American pain society; an American geriatrics society; the agency for health care research and quality; a national cancer pain initiative or any other nationally recognized clinical or professional association; or a specialty society or government-sponsored agency that has developed practice or care guidelines based on original research or on review of existing research and expert opinion whose guidelines have been accepted by the New Mexico medical board and by other boards of health care providers with prescriptive authority;

B.     "board" means the licensing board of a health care provider;

C.     "clinical expert" means a person who by reason of specialized education or substantial relevant experience in pain management has knowledge regarding current standards, practices and guidelines;

D.     "disciplinary action" means a formal action taken by a board against a health care provider, upon a finding of probable cause that the health care provider has engaged in conduct that violates the provider's respective board's practice act;

E.     "health care provider" means a person licensed or otherwise authorized by law to provide health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of the person's profession and to have prescriptive authority within the limits of the person's license;

F.     "pain" means a condition of bodily sensation of serious physical discomfort that requires the services of a health care provider to alleviate, including discomfort that is persistent and chronic in duration; and

G.     "therapeutic purpose" means the use of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical medical treatment that conforms substantially to accepted guidelines for pain management.