§55-7H-2. Definitions.

For purposes of this article:

(1) "Clinical practice plan" means any of the nonprofit corporations that are operated to assist the state medical school and state's medical and dental schools in providing clinical services to patients and which are controlled by governing boards all the voting members of which are faculty members or university officials. Clinical practice plans as defined herein shall be considered agents of the state.

(2) "Contractor" means an independent contractor, whether compensated or not, who is licensed as a health care professional under chapter thirty of this code, who is acting within the scope of his or her authority for a state medical school, state's medical and dental schools, or a clinical practice plan, and is a member of the faculty of a state's medical and dental schools or state medical school.

(3) "Employee" means a director, officer, employee, agent or servant, whether compensated or not, who is licensed as a health care professional under chapter thirty of this code and who is acting within the scope of his or her authority or employment for a state's medical and dental schools, a state medical school or a clinical practice plan.

(4) "Health care" means any act or treatment performed or furnished, or which should have been performed or furnished, by any director, officer, employee, agent or contractor of a state medical school, state's medical and dental schools, or a clinical practice plan for, to or on behalf of a patient during the patient's medical care, treatment or confinement.

(5) "Medical injury" means injury or death to a patient arising or resulting from the rendering or failure to render health care.

(6) "Medical professional liability insurance" means a contract of insurance, or any self-insurance retention program established under the provisions of section ten, article five, chapter eighteen-b of this code, that pays for the legal liability arising from a medical injury.

(7) "Patient" means a natural person who receives or should have received health care from a director, officer, employee, agent or contractor of a state medical school, state's medical and dental schools, or a clinical practice plan under a contract, express or implied.

(8) "Scope of authority or employment" means performance by a director, officer, employee, agent or contractor acting in good faith within the duties of his or her office, employment or contract with a state medical school, state's medical and dental schools, or a clinical practice plan, but does not include corruption or fraud.

(9) "State's medical and dental schools" or "state medical school" means the Marshall University School of Medicine, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, the West Virginia University School of Medicine and the West Virginia University School of Dentistry.