Terms Used In California Health and Safety Code 443.7

• Capacity to make medical decisions: means that, in the opinion of an individual's attending physician, consulting physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist, pursuant to §. See California Health and Safety Code 443.1
• Consulting physician: means a physician who is independent from the attending physician and who is qualified by specialty or experience to make a professional diagnosis and prognosis regarding an individual's terminal disease. See California Health and Safety Code 443.1
• Informed decision: means a decision by an individual with a terminal disease to request and obtain a prescription for a drug that the individual may self-administer to end the individual's life, that is based on an understanding and acknowledgment of the relevant facts, and that is made after being fully informed by the attending physician of all of the following:

  California Health and Safety Code 443.1

• Mental health specialist: means a psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist. See California Health and Safety Code 443.1
• Qualified individual: means an adult who has the capacity to make medical decisions, is a resident of California, and has satisfied the requirements of this part in order to obtain a prescription for a drug to end their life. See California Health and Safety Code 443.1