{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-581.13.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-581.13.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-581.13.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-581.13.html"}],"law_id":59392,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59392,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.13","catch_line":"Civil immunity for certain health professionals and health profession students serving as members of certain entities","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-654.6; 1975, c. 418; 1977, c. 617; 1983, c. 567; 1984, c. 494; 1987, c. 713; 1989, c. 729; 1992, c. 590; 1993, c. 702; 1995, c. 636; 1996, cc. 937, 980; 1997, cc. 439, 901; 2001, c. 460; 2006, cc. 412, 638; 2009, c. 472; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","full_text":"A\n\nFor the purposes of this subsection, “health professional” means any clinical psychologist, applied psychologist, school psychologist, dentist, certified emergency medical services provider, licensed professional counselor, licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, certified substance abuse counselor, certified substance abuse counseling assistant, licensed marriage and family therapist, nurse, optometrist, pharmacist, physician, chiropractor, podiatrist, or veterinarian who is actively engaged in the practice of his profession or any member of the Health Practitioners’ Monitoring Program Committee pursuant to Chapter 25.1 (§ 54.1-2515 et seq.) of Title 54.1.\n\t\t\tUnless such act, decision, or omission resulted from such health professional’s bad faith or malicious intent, any health professional, as defined in this subsection, shall be immune from civil liability for any act, decision or omission resulting from his duties as a member or agent of any entity which functions primarily (i) to investigate any complaint that a physical or mental impairment, including alcoholism or drug addiction, has impaired the ability of any such health professional to practice his profession and (ii) to encourage, recommend and arrange for a course of treatment or intervention, if deemed appropriate, or (iii) to review or monitor the duration of patient stays in health facilities, delivery of professional services, or the quality of care delivered in the statewide emergency medical services system for the purpose of promoting the most efficient use of available health facilities and services, the adequacy and quality of professional services, or the reasonableness or appropriateness of charges made by or on behalf of such health professionals. Such entity shall have been established pursuant to a federal or state law, or by one or more public or licensed private hospitals, or a relevant health professional society, academy or association affiliated with the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, the American Pharmaceutical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Podiatric Medical Association, the American Society of Hospitals and Pharmacies, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association for Counseling and Development, the American Optometric Association, International Chiropractic Association, the American Chiropractic Association, the NAADAC: the Association for Addiction Professionals, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy or a governmental agency.B\n\nFor the purposes of this subsection, “health profession student” means a student in good standing who is enrolled in an accredited school, program, or curriculum in clinical psychology, counseling, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, chiropractic, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse treatment, or veterinary medicine and has received training relating to substance abuse.\n\t\t\tUnless such act, decision, or omission resulted from such health profession student’s bad faith or malicious intent, any health profession student, as defined in this subsection, shall be immune from civil liability for any act, decision, or omission resulting from his duties as a member of an entity established by the institution of higher education in which he is enrolled or a professional student’s organization affiliated with such institution which functions primarily (i) to investigate any complaint of a physical or mental impairment, including alcoholism or drug addiction, of any health profession student and (ii) to encourage, recommend, and arrange for a course of treatment, if deemed appropriate.C\n\nThe immunity provided hereunder shall not extend to any person with respect to actions, decisions or omissions, liability for which is limited under the provisions of the federal Social Security Act or amendments thereto.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":217659,"text":"For the purposes of this subsection, “health professional” means any clinical psychologist, applied psychologist, school psychologist, dentist, certified emergency medical services provider, licensed professional counselor, licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, certified substance abuse counselor, certified substance abuse counseling assistant, licensed marriage and family therapist, nurse, optometrist, pharmacist, physician, chiropractor, podiatrist, or veterinarian who is actively engaged in the practice of his profession or any member of the Health Practitioners’ Monitoring Program Committee pursuant to Chapter 25.1 (§ 54.1-2515 et seq.) of Title 54.1.\n\t\t\tUnless such act, decision, or omission resulted from such health professional’s bad faith or malicious intent, any health professional, as defined in this subsection, shall be immune from civil liability for any act, decision or omission resulting from his duties as a member or agent of any entity which functions primarily (i) to investigate any complaint that a physical or mental impairment, including alcoholism or drug addiction, has impaired the ability of any such health professional to practice his profession and (ii) to encourage, recommend and arrange for a course of treatment or intervention, if deemed appropriate, or (iii) to review or monitor the duration of patient stays in health facilities, delivery of professional services, or the quality of care delivered in the statewide emergency medical services system for the purpose of promoting the most efficient use of available health facilities and services, the adequacy and quality of professional services, or the reasonableness or appropriateness of charges made by or on behalf of such health professionals. Such entity shall have been established pursuant to a federal or state law, or by one or more public or licensed private hospitals, or a relevant health professional society, academy or association affiliated with the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, the American Pharmaceutical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Podiatric Medical Association, the American Society of Hospitals and Pharmacies, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association for Counseling and Development, the American Optometric Association, International Chiropractic Association, the American Chiropractic Association, the NAADAC: the Association for Addiction Professionals, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy or a governmental agency.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":217660,"text":"For the purposes of this subsection, “health profession student” means a student in good standing who is enrolled in an accredited school, program, or curriculum in clinical psychology, counseling, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, chiropractic, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse treatment, or veterinary medicine and has received training relating to substance abuse.\n\t\t\tUnless such act, decision, or omission resulted from such health profession student’s bad faith or malicious intent, any health profession student, as defined in this subsection, shall be immune from civil liability for any act, decision, or omission resulting from his duties as a member of an entity established by the institution of higher education in which he is enrolled or a professional student’s organization affiliated with such institution which functions primarily (i) to investigate any complaint of a physical or mental impairment, including alcoholism or drug addiction, of any health profession student and (ii) to encourage, recommend, and arrange for a course of treatment, if deemed appropriate.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":217661,"text":"The immunity provided hereunder shall not extend to any person with respect to actions, decisions or omissions, liability for which is limited under the provisions of the federal Social Security Act or amendments thereto.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14388,"edition_id":1,"name":"Miscellaneous Provisions","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14387,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","permalink":{"id":278979,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14388,"identifier":"2","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2","url":"\/8.01\/21.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14387,"edition_id":1,"name":"Medical Malpractice","identifier":"21.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12747,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:58","permalink":{"id":278895,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14387,"identifier":"21.1","token":"8.01\/21.1","url":"\/8.01\/21.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12747,"edition_id":1,"name":"Civil Remedies and Procedure","identifier":"8.01","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":277029,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12747,"identifier":"8.01","token":"8.01","url":"\/8.01\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":59392,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.13","catch_line":"Civil immunity for certain health professionals and health profession students serving as members of certain entities","url":"\/8.01-581.13\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.13","metadata":false},{"id":60855,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.14","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/8.01-581.14\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.14","metadata":false},{"id":66555,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.15","catch_line":"Limitation on recovery in certain medical malpractice actions","url":"\/8.01-581.15\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.15","metadata":false},{"id":55726,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.16","catch_line":"Civil immunity for members of or consultants to certain boards or committees","url":"\/8.01-581.16\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.16","metadata":false},{"id":75226,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.17","catch_line":"Privileged communications of certain committees and entities","url":"\/8.01-581.17\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.17","metadata":false},{"id":57108,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.18","catch_line":"Delivery of results of laboratory tests and other examinations not authorized by physician","url":"\/8.01-581.18\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.18","metadata":false},{"id":57097,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.18:1","catch_line":"Immunity of physicians for laboratory results and examinations","url":"\/8.01-581.18_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.18_1","metadata":false},{"id":71346,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.19","catch_line":"Civil immunity for physicians, psychologists, podiatrists, optometrists, veterinarians, nursing home administrators, and certified emergency medical services providers while members of certain committees","url":"\/8.01-581.19\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.19","metadata":false},{"id":59744,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.19:1","catch_line":"Civil immunity for persons providing information to certain committees","url":"\/8.01-581.19_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.19_1","metadata":false},{"id":75087,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.20","catch_line":"Standard of care in proceeding before medical malpractice review panel; expert testimony; determination of standard in action for damages","url":"\/8.01-581.20\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.20","metadata":false},{"id":57136,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.20:1","catch_line":"Admissibility of expressions of sympathy","url":"\/8.01-581.20_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.20_1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":60855,"structure_id":14388,"section_number":"8.01-581.14","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/8.01-581.14\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.14","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-581.13\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 15 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 1975, chapter 418; in 1977, chapter 617; in 1983, chapter 567; in 1984, chapter 494; in 1987, chapter 713; in 1989, chapter 729; in 1992, chapter 590; in 1993, chapter 702; in 1995, chapter 636<\/a>; in 1996, chapters 937<\/a> and 980<\/a>; in 1997, chapters 439<\/a> and 901<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 460<\/a>; in 2006, chapters 412<\/a> and 638<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 472<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 502<\/a> and 503<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":64901,"section_number":"54.1-2517","catch_line":"Health Practitioners' Monitoring Program Committee; certain meetings, decisions to be excepted from the Freedom of Information Act; confidentiality of records; immunity from liability","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2517\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":66603,"section_number":"54.1-2515","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2515\/"}],"permalink":{"id":278981,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59392,"identifier":"8.01-581.13","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.13","url":"\/8.01-581.13\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-581.13\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.13","dublin_core":{"Title":"Civil immunity for certain health professionals and health profession students serving as members of certain entities","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-581.13","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> For the purposes of this subsection, “health professional<\/span>” means any clinical psychologist, applied psychologist, school psychologist, dentist, certified emergency medical services provider, licensed professional counselor, licensed substance abuse treatment<\/span> practitioner, certified substance abuse counselor, certified substance abuse counseling assistant, licensed marriage and family therapist, nurse, optometrist, pharmacist, physician<\/span>, chiropractor, podiatrist, or veterinarian who is actively engaged in the practice of his profession or any member of the Health Practitioners’ Monitoring Program Committee pursuant to Chapter 25.1 (§ 54.1-2515<\/a> et seq.) of Title 54.1.\n\t\t\tUnless such act, decision, or omission resulted from such health professional<\/span>’s bad faith or malicious<\/span> intent<\/span>, any health professional<\/span>, as defined in this subsection, shall be immune from civil liability for any act, decision or omission resulting from his duties as a member or agent of any entity which functions primarily (i) to investigate any complaint that a physical or mental impairment, including alcoholism or drug addiction, has impaired the ability of any such health professional<\/span> to practice his profession and (ii) to encourage, recommend and arrange for a course of treatment or intervention, if deemed appropriate, or (iii) to review or monitor the duration of patient<\/span> stays<\/span> in health facilities, delivery of professional services, or the quality of care delivered in the statewide emergency medical services system for the purpose of promoting the most efficient use of available health facilities and services, the adequacy and quality of professional services, or the reasonableness or appropriateness of charges made by or on behalf of such health professionals<\/span>. Such entity shall have been established pursuant to a federal or state law<\/span>, or by one or more public or licensed private hospitals<\/span>, or a relevant health professional<\/span> society, academy or association affiliated with the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, the American Pharmaceutical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Podiatric Medical Association, the American Society of Hospitals<\/span> and Pharmacies, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association for Counseling and Development, the American Optometric Association, International Chiropractic Association, the American Chiropractic Association, the NAADAC: the Association for Addiction Professionals, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy or a governmental agency. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> For the purposes of this subsection, “health profession student<\/span>” means a student in good standing who is enrolled in an accredited school, program, or curriculum in clinical psychology, counseling, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, chiropractic, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse treatment<\/span>, or veterinary medicine and has received training relating to substance abuse.\n\t\t\tUnless such act, decision, or omission resulted from such health profession student<\/span>’s bad faith or malicious<\/span> intent<\/span>, any health profession student<\/span>, as defined in this subsection, shall be immune from civil liability for any act, decision, or omission resulting from his duties as a member of an entity established by the institution of higher education in which he is enrolled or a professional student’s organization affiliated with such institution which functions primarily (i) to investigate any complaint of a physical or mental impairment, including alcoholism or drug addiction, of any health profession student<\/span> and (ii) to encourage, recommend, and arrange for a course of treatment, if deemed appropriate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The immunity provided hereunder shall not extend to any person<\/span> with respect to actions<\/span>, decisions or omissions, liability for which is limited under the provisions of the federal Social Security Act or amendments thereto. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCIVIL IMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND HEALTH PROFESSION STUDENTS\nSERVING AS MEMBERS OF CERTAIN ENTITIES (\u00a7 8.01-581.13)\n\nA. For the purposes of this subsection, “health professional” means\nany clinical psychologist, applied psychologist, school psychologist, dentist,\ncertified emergency medical services provider, licensed professional counselor,\nlicensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, certified substance abuse\ncounselor, certified substance abuse counseling assistant, licensed marriage and\nfamily therapist, nurse, optometrist, pharmacist, physician, chiropractor,\npodiatrist, or veterinarian who is actively engaged in the practice of his\nprofession or any member of the Health Practitioners’ Monitoring Program\nCommittee pursuant to Chapter 25.1 (§ 54.1-2515 et seq.) of Title 54.1.\n\t\t\tUnless such act, decision, or omission resulted from such health\nprofessional’s bad faith or malicious intent, any health professional, as\ndefined in this subsection, shall be immune from civil liability for any act,\ndecision or omission resulting from his duties as a member or agent of any\nentity which functions primarily (i) to investigate any complaint that a\nphysical or mental impairment, including alcoholism or drug addiction, has\nimpaired the ability of any such health professional to practice his profession\nand (ii) to encourage, recommend and arrange for a course of treatment or\nintervention, if deemed appropriate, or (iii) to review or monitor the duration\nof patient stays in health facilities, delivery of professional services, or the\nquality of care delivered in the statewide emergency medical services system for\nthe purpose of promoting the most efficient use of available health facilities\nand services, the adequacy and quality of professional services, or the\nreasonableness or appropriateness of charges made by or on behalf of such health\nprofessionals. Such entity shall have been established pursuant to a federal or\nstate law, or by one or more public or licensed private hospitals, or a relevant\nhealth professional society, academy or association affiliated with the American\nMedical Association, the American Dental Association, the American\nPharmaceutical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American\nPodiatric Medical Association, the American Society of Hospitals and Pharmacies,\nthe American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association for\nCounseling and Development, the American Optometric Association, International\nChiropractic Association, the American Chiropractic Association, the NAADAC: the\nAssociation for Addiction Professionals, the American Association for Marriage\nand Family Therapy or a governmental agency.\n\nB. For the purposes of this subsection, “health profession student”\nmeans a student in good standing who is enrolled in an accredited school,\nprogram, or curriculum in clinical psychology, counseling, dentistry, medicine,\nnursing, pharmacy, chiropractic, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse\ntreatment, or veterinary medicine and has received training relating to\nsubstance abuse.\n\t\t\tUnless such act, decision, or omission resulted from such health profession\nstudent’s bad faith or malicious intent, any health profession student, as\ndefined in this subsection, shall be immune from civil liability for any act,\ndecision, or omission resulting from his duties as a member of an entity\nestablished by the institution of higher education in which he is enrolled or a\nprofessional student’s organization affiliated with such institution which\nfunctions primarily (i) to investigate any complaint of a physical or mental\nimpairment, including alcoholism or drug addiction, of any health profession\nstudent and (ii) to encourage, recommend, and arrange for a course of treatment,\nif deemed appropriate.\n\nC. The immunity provided hereunder shall not extend to any person with respect\nto actions, decisions or omissions, liability for which is limited under the\nprovisions of the federal Social Security Act or amendments thereto.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-654.6; 1975, c. 418; 1977, c. 617; 1983, c. 567; 1984,\nc. 494; 1987, c. 713; 1989, c. 729; 1992, c. 590; 1993, c. 702; 1995, c. 636;\n1996, cc. 937, 980; 1997, cc. 439, 901; 2001, c. 460; 2006, cc. 412, 638; 2009,\nc. 472; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","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}}