{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-2975.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-2975.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-2975.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-2975.html"}],"law_id":80885,"edition_id":1,"section_id":80885,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2975","catch_line":"Sterilization operations for certain children incapable of informed consent","history":"1981, c. 454, \u00a7 54-325.10; 1988, c. 765.","full_text":"It shall be lawful for any physician licensed by the Board of Medicine to perform a vasectomy, salpingectomy, or other surgical sexual sterilization procedure on a person fourteen years of age or older and less than eighteen years of age when:\n\n1\n\nA petition has been filed in the circuit court of the county or city wherein the child resides by the parent or parents having custody of the child or by the child’s guardian, spouse, or next friend requesting that the operation be performed;2\n\nThe court has made the child a party defendant, served the child, the child’s guardian, if any, the child’s spouse, if any, and the child’s parent who has custody of the child with notice of the proceedings and appointed for the child an attorney-at-law to represent and protect the child’s interests;3\n\nThe court has determined that a full, reasonable, and comprehensible medical explanation as to the meaning, consequences, and risks of the sterilization operation to be performed and as to alternative methods of contraception has been given by the physician to the child upon whom the operation is to be performed, to the child’s guardian, if any, to the child’s spouse, if any, and, if there is no spouse, to the parent who has custody of the child;4\n\nThe court has determined by clear and convincing evidence that the child’s mental abilities are so impaired that the child is incapable of making his or her own decision about sterilization and is unlikely to develop mentally to a sufficient degree to make an informed judgment about sterilization in the foreseeable future;5\n\nThe court, to the greatest extent possible, has elicited and taken into account the views of the child concerning the sterilization, giving the views of the child such weight in its decision as the court deems appropriate;6\n\nThe court has complied with the requirements of § 54.1-2977; and7\n\nThe court has entered an order authorizing a qualified physician to perform the operation not earlier than thirty days after the date of the entry of the order, and thirty days have elapsed. The court order shall state the date on and after which the sterilization operation may be performed.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":289931,"text":"It shall be lawful for any physician licensed by the Board of Medicine to perform a vasectomy, salpingectomy, or other surgical sexual sterilization procedure on a person fourteen years of age or older and less than eighteen years of age when:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":289932,"text":"A petition has been filed in the circuit court of the county or city wherein the child resides by the parent or parents having custody of the child or by the child’s guardian, spouse, or next friend requesting that the operation be performed;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":289933,"text":"The court has made the child a party defendant, served the child, the child’s guardian, if any, the child’s spouse, if any, and the child’s parent who has custody of the child with notice of the proceedings and appointed for the child an attorney-at-law to represent and protect the child’s interests;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":289934,"text":"The court has determined that a full, reasonable, and comprehensible medical explanation as to the meaning, consequences, and risks of the sterilization operation to be performed and as to alternative methods of contraception has been given by the physician to the child upon whom the operation is to be performed, to the child’s guardian, if any, to the child’s spouse, if any, and, if there is no spouse, to the parent who has custody of the child;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":289935,"text":"The court has determined by clear and convincing evidence that the child’s mental abilities are so impaired that the child is incapable of making his or her own decision about sterilization and is unlikely to develop mentally to a sufficient degree to make an informed judgment about sterilization in the foreseeable future;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":289936,"text":"The court, to the greatest extent possible, has elicited and taken into account the views of the child concerning the sterilization, giving the views of the child such weight in its decision as the court deems appropriate;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":289937,"text":"The court has complied with the requirements of § 54.1-2977; and","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":289938,"text":"The court has entered an order authorizing a qualified physician to perform the operation not earlier than thirty days after the date of the entry of the order, and thirty days have elapsed. The court order shall state the date on and after which the sterilization operation may be performed.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16180,"edition_id":1,"name":"Sexual Sterilization","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12759,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:08:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:08:21","permalink":{"id":242549,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16180,"identifier":"7","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7","url":"\/54.1\/III\/29\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12759,"edition_id":1,"name":"Medicine and Other Healing Arts","identifier":"29","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241933,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12759,"identifier":"29","token":"54.1\/III\/29","url":"\/54.1\/III\/29\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":64502,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2974","catch_line":"Sterilization operations for persons 18 years or older capable of informed consent","url":"\/54.1-2974\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2974","metadata":false},{"id":80885,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2975","catch_line":"Sterilization operations for certain children incapable of informed consent","url":"\/54.1-2975\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2975","metadata":false},{"id":86736,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2976","catch_line":"Sterilization operations for certain adults incapable of informed consent","url":"\/54.1-2976\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2976","metadata":false},{"id":68587,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2977","catch_line":"Standards for court-authorized sterilization of certain persons","url":"\/54.1-2977\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2977","metadata":false},{"id":71605,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2978","catch_line":"Reports of certain sterilizations","url":"\/54.1-2978\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2978","metadata":false},{"id":83179,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2979","catch_line":"No liability for nonnegligent performance of operation","url":"\/54.1-2979\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2979","metadata":false},{"id":73580,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2980","catch_line":"Article inapplicable to certain medical or surgical treatment","url":"\/54.1-2980\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2980","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":64502,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2974","catch_line":"Sterilization operations for persons 18 years or older capable of informed consent","url":"\/54.1-2974\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2974","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":86736,"structure_id":16180,"section_number":"54.1-2976","catch_line":"Sterilization operations for certain adults incapable of informed consent","url":"\/54.1-2976\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2976","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2975\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1981. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 454 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1981 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 1988, chapter 765.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68587,"section_number":"54.1-2977","catch_line":"Standards for court-authorized sterilization of certain persons","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2977\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":68587,"section_number":"54.1-2977","catch_line":"Standards for court-authorized sterilization of certain persons","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2977\/"}],"permalink":{"id":242555,"object_type":"law","relational_id":80885,"identifier":"54.1-2975","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2975","url":"\/54.1-2975\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2975\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/7\/54.1-2975","dublin_core":{"Title":"Sterilization operations for certain children incapable of informed consent","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2975","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

It shall be lawful for any physician licensed by the Board<\/span> of Medicine to perform a vasectomy, salpingectomy, or other surgical sexual sterilization procedure on a person fourteen years of age or older and less than eighteen years of age when:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> A petition<\/span> has been filed in the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the county or city wherein the child resides by the parent or parents having custody<\/span> of the child or by the child’s guardian, spouse, or next friend requesting that the operation be performed; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The court<\/span> has made the child a party<\/span> defendant<\/span>, served the child, the child’s guardian, if any, the child’s spouse, if any, and the child’s parent who has custody<\/span> of the child with notice of the proceedings and appointed for the child an attorney-at-law<\/span> to represent and protect the child’s interests; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The court<\/span> has determined that a full, reasonable, and comprehensible medical explanation as to the meaning, consequences, and risks of the sterilization operation to be performed and as to alternative methods of contraception has been given by the physician to the child upon whom the operation is to be performed, to the child’s guardian, if any, to the child’s spouse, if any, and, if there is no spouse, to the parent who has custody<\/span> of the child; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The court<\/span> has determined by clear and convincing evidence<\/span> that the child’s mental abilities are so impaired that the child is incapable of making his or her own decision about sterilization and is unlikely to develop mentally to a sufficient degree to make an informed judgment<\/span> about sterilization in the foreseeable future; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> The court<\/span>, to the greatest extent possible, has elicited and taken into account the views of the child concerning the sterilization, giving the views of the child such weight in its decision as the court<\/span> deems appropriate; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> The court<\/span> has complied with the requirements of § 54.1-2977<\/a>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> The court has entered an order authorizing a qualified physician to perform the operation not earlier than thirty days after the date of the entry of the order, and thirty days have elapsed. The court order<\/span> shall state the date on and after which the sterilization operation may be performed. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSTERILIZATION OPERATIONS FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN INCAPABLE OF INFORMED CONSENT (\u00a7\n54.1-2975)\n\nIt shall be lawful for any physician licensed by the Board of Medicine to\nperform a vasectomy, salpingectomy, or other surgical sexual sterilization\nprocedure on a person fourteen years of age or older and less than eighteen\nyears of age when:\n\n1. A petition has been filed in the circuit court of the county or city wherein\nthe child resides by the parent or parents having custody of the child or by the\nchild’s guardian, spouse, or next friend requesting that the operation be\nperformed;\n\n2. The court has made the child a party defendant, served the child, the\nchild’s guardian, if any, the child’s spouse, if any, and the\nchild’s parent who has custody of the child with notice of the proceedings\nand appointed for the child an attorney-at-law to represent and protect the\nchild’s interests;\n\n3. The court has determined that a full, reasonable, and comprehensible medical\nexplanation as to the meaning, consequences, and risks of the sterilization\noperation to be performed and as to alternative methods of contraception has\nbeen given by the physician to the child upon whom the operation is to be\nperformed, to the child’s guardian, if any, to the child’s spouse,\nif any, and, if there is no spouse, to the parent who has custody of the child;\n\n4. The court has determined by clear and convincing evidence that the\nchild’s mental abilities are so impaired that the child is incapable of\nmaking his or her own decision about sterilization and is unlikely to develop\nmentally to a sufficient degree to make an informed judgment about sterilization\nin the foreseeable future;\n\n5. The court, to the greatest extent possible, has elicited and taken into\naccount the views of the child concerning the sterilization, giving the views of\nthe child such weight in its decision as the court deems appropriate;\n\n6. The court has complied with the requirements of § 54.1-2977; and\n\n7. The court has entered an order authorizing a qualified physician to perform\nthe operation not earlier than thirty days after the date of the entry of the\norder, and thirty days have elapsed. The court order shall state the date on and\nafter which the sterilization operation may be performed.\n\nHISTORY: 1981, c. 454, \u00a7 54-325.10; 1988, c. 765.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}