{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-2991.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-2991.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-2991.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-2991.html"}],"law_id":78993,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78993,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2991","catch_line":"Effect of declaration; suicide; insurance; declarations executed prior to effective date","history":"1983, c. 532, \u00a7 54-325.8:11; 1988, c. 765; 1992, cc. 412, 748, 772; 1999, c. 814; 2009, cc. 211, 268.","full_text":"The withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures in accordance with the provisions of this article shall not, for any purpose, constitute a suicide. Nor shall the making of an advance directive pursuant to this article affect the sale, procurement or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor shall the making of an advance directive or the issuance of a Durable Do Not Resuscitate Order pursuant to this article be deemed to modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance. No policy of life insurance shall be legally impaired or invalidated by the withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures from an insured patient in accordance with this article, notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary. A person shall not be required to make an advance directive or consent to a Durable Do Not Resuscitate order as a condition for being insured for, or receiving, health care services.\n\t\tThe declaration of any patient made prior to July 1, 1983, an advance directive made prior to July 1, 1992, or the issuance, in accordance with the then current law, of a Do Not Resuscitate Order or an Emergency Medical Services Do Not Resuscitate Order prior to July 1, 1999, shall be given effect as provided in this article.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":282935,"text":"The withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures in accordance with the provisions of this article shall not, for any purpose, constitute a suicide. Nor shall the making of an advance directive pursuant to this article affect the sale, procurement or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor shall the making of an advance directive or the issuance of a Durable Do Not Resuscitate Order pursuant to this article be deemed to modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance. No policy of life insurance shall be legally impaired or invalidated by the withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures from an insured patient in accordance with this article, notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary. A person shall not be required to make an advance directive or consent to a Durable Do Not Resuscitate order as a condition for being insured for, or receiving, health care services.\n\t\tThe declaration of any patient made prior to July 1, 1983, an advance directive made prior to July 1, 1992, or the issuance, in accordance with the then current law, of a Do Not Resuscitate Order or an Emergency Medical Services Do Not Resuscitate Order prior to July 1, 1999, shall be given effect as provided in this article.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14683,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health Care Decisions Act","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12759,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:19","permalink":{"id":242579,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14683,"identifier":"8","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8","url":"\/54.1\/III\/29\/8\/","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":77307,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2981","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/54.1-2981\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2981","metadata":false},{"id":56308,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2982","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-2982\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2982","metadata":false},{"id":57295,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2983","catch_line":"Procedure for making advance directive; notice to physician","url":"\/54.1-2983\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2983","metadata":false},{"id":61815,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2983.1","catch_line":"Participation in health care research","url":"\/54.1-2983.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2983.1","metadata":false},{"id":67924,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2983.2","catch_line":"Capacity; required determinations","url":"\/54.1-2983.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2983.2","metadata":false},{"id":56394,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2983.3","catch_line":"Exclusions and limitations of advance directives","url":"\/54.1-2983.3\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2983.3","metadata":false},{"id":62832,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2984","catch_line":"Suggested form of written advance directives","url":"\/54.1-2984\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2984","metadata":false},{"id":58882,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2985","catch_line":"Revocation of an advance directive","url":"\/54.1-2985\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2985","metadata":false},{"id":61746,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2985.1","catch_line":"Injunction; court-ordered health care","url":"\/54.1-2985.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2985.1","metadata":false},{"id":65220,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2986","catch_line":"Procedure in absence of an advance directive; procedure for advance directive without agent; no presumption; persons who may authorize health care for patients incapable of informed decisions","url":"\/54.1-2986\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2986","metadata":false},{"id":79852,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2986.1","catch_line":"Duties and authority of agent or person identified in \u00a7 54.1-2986","url":"\/54.1-2986.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2986.1","metadata":false},{"id":73438,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2986.2","catch_line":"Health care decisions in the event of patient protest","url":"\/54.1-2986.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2986.2","metadata":false},{"id":70254,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2987","catch_line":"Transfer of patient by physician who refuses to comply with advance directive or health care decision","url":"\/54.1-2987\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2987","metadata":false},{"id":61456,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2987.1","catch_line":"Durable Do Not Resuscitate Orders","url":"\/54.1-2987.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2987.1","metadata":false},{"id":78436,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2988","catch_line":"Immunity from liability; burden of proof; presumption","url":"\/54.1-2988\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2988","metadata":false},{"id":76186,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2988.1","catch_line":"Assistance with completing and executing advance directives","url":"\/54.1-2988.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2988.1","metadata":false},{"id":75997,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2989","catch_line":"Willful destruction, concealment, etc., of declaration or revocation; penalties","url":"\/54.1-2989\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2989","metadata":false},{"id":63401,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2989.1","catch_line":"Failure to deliver advance directive","url":"\/54.1-2989.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2989.1","metadata":false},{"id":83098,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2990","catch_line":"Medically unnecessary health care not required; procedure when physician refuses to comply with an advance directive or a designated person's health care decision; mercy killing or euthanasia prohibited","url":"\/54.1-2990\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2990","metadata":false},{"id":78993,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2991","catch_line":"Effect of declaration; suicide; insurance; declarations executed prior to effective date","url":"\/54.1-2991\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2991","metadata":false},{"id":74741,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2992","catch_line":"Preservation of existing rights","url":"\/54.1-2992\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2992","metadata":false},{"id":58521,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2993","catch_line":"Reciprocity","url":"\/54.1-2993\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2993","metadata":false},{"id":76420,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2993.1","catch_line":"Qualified advance directive facilitators; requirements for training programs","url":"\/54.1-2993.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2993.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":83098,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2990","catch_line":"Medically unnecessary health care not required; procedure when physician refuses to comply with an advance directive or a designated person's health care decision; mercy killing or euthanasia prohibited","url":"\/54.1-2990\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2990","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74741,"structure_id":14683,"section_number":"54.1-2992","catch_line":"Preservation of existing rights","url":"\/54.1-2992\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2992","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2991\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1983. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 532 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 1983 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. 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. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapter 765; in 1992, chapters 412, 748, and 772; in 1999, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0814\">814<\/a>; in 2009, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?091+ful+CHAP0211\">211<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?091+ful+CHAP0268\">268<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":56308,"section_number":"54.1-2982","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2982\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":242657,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78993,"identifier":"54.1-2991","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2991","url":"\/54.1-2991\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2991\/","token":"54.1\/III\/29\/8\/54.1-2991","dublin_core":{"Title":"Effect of declaration; suicide; insurance; declarations executed prior to effective date","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2991","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The withholding or withdrawal of <span class=\"dictionary\">life-prolonging procedures<\/span> in accordance with the provisions of this article shall not, for any purpose, constitute a suicide. Nor shall the making of an <span class=\"dictionary\">advance directive<\/span> pursuant to this article affect the sale, procurement or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor shall the making of an <span class=\"dictionary\">advance directive<\/span> or the issuance of a <span class=\"dictionary\">Durable Do Not Resuscitate Order<\/span> pursuant to this article be deemed to modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance. No policy of life insurance shall be legally impaired or invalidated by the withholding or withdrawal of <span class=\"dictionary\">life-prolonging procedures<\/span> from an insured patient in accordance with this article, notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary. A person shall not be required to make an <span class=\"dictionary\">advance directive<\/span> or consent to a <span class=\"dictionary\">Durable Do Not Resuscitate order<\/span> as a condition for being insured for, or receiving, <span class=\"dictionary\">health care<\/span> services.\n\t\tThe declaration of any patient made prior to July 1, 1983, an <span class=\"dictionary\">advance directive<\/span> made prior to July 1, 1992, or the issuance, in accordance with the then current <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>, of a Do Not Resuscitate Order or an Emergency Medical Services Do Not Resuscitate Order prior to July 1, 1999, shall be given effect as provided in this article.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEFFECT OF DECLARATION; SUICIDE; INSURANCE; DECLARATIONS EXECUTED PRIOR TO\nEFFECTIVE DATE (\u00a7 54.1-2991)\n\nThe withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures in accordance with\nthe provisions of this article shall not, for any purpose, constitute a suicide.\nNor shall the making of an advance directive pursuant to this article affect the\nsale, procurement or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor shall the\nmaking of an advance directive or the issuance of a Durable Do Not Resuscitate\nOrder pursuant to this article be deemed to modify the terms of an existing\npolicy of life insurance. No policy of life insurance shall be legally impaired\nor invalidated by the withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures\nfrom an insured patient in accordance with this article, notwithstanding any\nterm of the policy to the contrary. A person shall not be required to make an\nadvance directive or consent to a Durable Do Not Resuscitate order as a\ncondition for being insured for, or receiving, health care services.\n\t\tThe declaration of any patient made prior to July 1, 1983, an advance\ndirective made prior to July 1, 1992, or the issuance, in accordance with the\nthen current law, of a Do Not Resuscitate Order or an Emergency Medical Services\nDo Not Resuscitate Order prior to July 1, 1999, shall be given effect as\nprovided in this article.\n\nHISTORY: 1983, c. 532, \u00a7 54-325.8:11; 1988, c. 765; 1992, cc. 412, 748, 772;\n1999, c. 814; 2009, cc. 211, 268.","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}}