{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-581.19.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-581.19.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-581.19.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-581.19.html"}],"law_id":71346,"edition_id":1,"section_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","history":"1978, c. 541; 1987, c. 713; 1989, c. 729; 1993, c. 702; 1996, cc. 937, 980; 2006, c. 412; 2015, cc. 502, 503.","full_text":"A\n\nAny physician, chiropractor, psychologist, podiatrist, veterinarian, or optometrist licensed to practice in the Commonwealth shall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding, opinion, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of any committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions concerning the admission of any physician, psychologist, podiatrist, veterinarian, or optometrist to, or the taking of disciplinary action against any member of, any medical society, academy, or association affiliated with the American Medical Association, the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists, the American Psychological Association, the Virginia Applied Psychology Academy, the Virginia Academy of School Psychologists, the American Podiatric Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the International Chiropractic Association, the American Chiropractic Association, the Virginia Chiropractic Association, or the American Optometric Association, provided that such communication, finding, opinion, or conclusion is not made in bad faith or with malicious intent.B\n\nAny nursing home administrator licensed under the laws of the Commonwealth shall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding, opinion, decision, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of any committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions concerning the admission of any health care facility to, or the taking of disciplinary action against any member of, the Virginia Health Care Association, provided that such communication, finding, opinion, decision, or conclusion is not made in bad faith or with malicious intent.C\n\nAny emergency medical services provider who holds a valid certificate issued by the Commissioner of Health shall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding, opinion, decision, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of any regional council, committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions concerning the quality of care, including triage, interfacility transfer, and other components of emergency medical services care, unless such communication, finding, opinion, decision, or conclusion is made in bad faith or with malicious intent.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":257226,"text":"Any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, podiatrist, veterinarian, or optometrist licensed to practice in the Commonwealth shall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding, opinion, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of any committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions concerning the admission of any physician, psychologist, podiatrist, veterinarian, or optometrist to, or the taking of disciplinary action against any member of, any medical society, academy, or association affiliated with the American Medical Association, the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists, the American Psychological Association, the Virginia Applied Psychology Academy, the Virginia Academy of School Psychologists, the American Podiatric Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the International Chiropractic Association, the American Chiropractic Association, the Virginia Chiropractic Association, or the American Optometric Association, provided that such communication, finding, opinion, or conclusion is not made in bad faith or with malicious intent.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":257227,"text":"Any nursing home administrator licensed under the laws of the Commonwealth shall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding, opinion, decision, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of any committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions concerning the admission of any health care facility to, or the taking of disciplinary action against any member of, the Virginia Health Care Association, provided that such communication, finding, opinion, decision, or conclusion is not made in bad faith or with malicious intent.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":257228,"text":"Any emergency medical services provider who holds a valid certificate issued by the Commissioner of Health shall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding, opinion, decision, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of any regional council, committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions concerning the quality of care, including triage, interfacility transfer, and other components of emergency medical services care, unless such 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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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-581.19\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1978. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 541 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 1978 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 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 1987, chapter 713; in 1989, chapter 729; in 1993, chapter 702; in 1996, chapters 937<\/a> and 980<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 412<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 502<\/a> and 503<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":279009,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71346,"identifier":"8.01-581.19","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.19","url":"\/8.01-581.19\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-581.19\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/2\/8.01-581.19","dublin_core":{"Title":"Civil immunity for physicians, psychologists, podiatrists, optometrists, veterinarians, nursing home administrators, and certified emergency medical services providers while members of certain committees","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-581.19","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any physician<\/span>, chiropractor, psychologist, podiatrist, veterinarian, or optometrist licensed to practice in the Commonwealth shall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding<\/span>, opinion<\/span>, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of any committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions concerning the admission of any physician<\/span>, psychologist, podiatrist, veterinarian, or optometrist to, or the taking of disciplinary action<\/span> against any member of, any medical society, academy, or association affiliated with the American Medical Association, the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists, the American Psychological Association, the Virginia Applied Psychology Academy, the Virginia Academy of School Psychologists, the American Podiatric Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the International Chiropractic Association, the American Chiropractic Association, the Virginia Chiropractic Association, or the American Optometric Association, provided that such communication, finding<\/span>, opinion<\/span>, or conclusion is not made in bad faith or with malicious<\/span> intent<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any nursing home administrator licensed under the laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth shall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding<\/span>, opinion<\/span>, decision, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of any committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions concerning the admission of any health care<\/span> facility to, or the taking of disciplinary action<\/span> against any member of, the Virginia Health Care<\/span> Association, provided that such communication, finding<\/span>, opinion<\/span>, decision, or conclusion is not made in bad faith or with malicious<\/span> intent<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any emergency medical services provider who holds a valid certificate issued by the Commissioner of Health shall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding<\/span>, opinion<\/span>, decision, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a member of any regional council, committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions concerning the quality of care, including triage, interfacility transfer, and other components of emergency medical services care, unless such communication, finding<\/span>, opinion<\/span>, decision, or conclusion is made in bad faith or with malicious<\/span> intent<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCIVIL IMMUNITY FOR PHYSICIANS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PODIATRISTS, OPTOMETRISTS,\nVETERINARIANS, NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATORS, AND CERTIFIED EMERGENCY MEDICAL\nSERVICES PROVIDERS WHILE MEMBERS OF CERTAIN COMMITTEES (\u00a7 8.01-581.19)\n\nA. Any physician, chiropractor, psychologist, podiatrist, veterinarian, or\noptometrist licensed to practice in the Commonwealth shall be immune from civil\nliability for any communication, finding, opinion, or conclusion made in\nperformance of his duties while serving as a member of any committee, board,\ngroup, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions\nconcerning the admission of any physician, psychologist, podiatrist,\nveterinarian, or optometrist to, or the taking of disciplinary action against\nany member of, any medical society, academy, or association affiliated with the\nAmerican Medical Association, the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists,\nthe American Psychological Association, the Virginia Applied Psychology Academy,\nthe Virginia Academy of School Psychologists, the American Podiatric Medical\nAssociation, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the International\nChiropractic Association, the American Chiropractic Association, the Virginia\nChiropractic Association, or the American Optometric Association, provided that\nsuch communication, finding, opinion, or conclusion is not made in bad faith or\nwith malicious intent.\n\nB. Any nursing home administrator licensed under the laws of the Commonwealth\nshall be immune from civil liability for any communication, finding, opinion,\ndecision, or conclusion made in performance of his duties while serving as a\nmember of any committee, board, group, commission, or other entity that is\nresponsible for resolving questions concerning the admission of any health care\nfacility to, or the taking of disciplinary action against any member of, the\nVirginia Health Care Association, provided that such communication, finding,\nopinion, decision, or conclusion is not made in bad faith or with malicious\nintent.\n\nC. Any emergency medical services provider who holds a valid certificate issued\nby the Commissioner of Health shall be immune from civil liability for any\ncommunication, finding, opinion, decision, or conclusion made in performance of\nhis duties while serving as a member of any regional council, committee, board,\ngroup, commission, or other entity that is responsible for resolving questions\nconcerning the quality of care, including triage, interfacility transfer, and\nother components of emergency medical services care, unless such communication,\nfinding, opinion, decision, or conclusion is made in bad faith or with malicious\nintent.\n\nHISTORY: 1978, c. 541; 1987, c. 713; 1989, c. 729; 1993, c. 702; 1996, cc. 937,\n980; 2006, c. 412; 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}}