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Medicines Act 1981

4: Meaning of therapeutic purpose

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"What 'therapeutic purpose' means in the Medicines Act"

Illustration for Medicines Act 1981

When you hear the term 'therapeutic purpose' in the Medicines Act 1981, it refers to several things. It means using something to prevent or treat a disease or injury. It can also mean using something to influence how your body works. You might use something for a therapeutic purpose to diagnose or monitor a disease. It can also be used to test if you are susceptible to a disease. In addition, it can be used to prevent or control conception, or to test for pregnancy. It also includes using something to investigate, replace, or modify parts of your body. This is what the term 'therapeutic purpose' means in the Medicines Act 1981.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM55001.

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4Meaning of therapeutic purpose

  1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, therapeutic purpose means any of the following purposes, or a purpose in connection with any of the following purposes:

  2. preventing, diagnosing, monitoring, alleviating, treating, curing, or compensating for, a disease, ailment, defect, or injury; or
    1. influencing, inhibiting, or modifying a physiological process; or
      1. testing the susceptibility of persons to a disease or ailment; or
        1. influencing, controlling, or preventing conception; or
          1. testing for pregnancy; or
            1. investigating, replacing, or modifying parts of the human anatomy.

              Notes
              • Section 4: replaced, on , by section 7 of the Medicines Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 141).