{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/8.01-581.8.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/8.01-581.8.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/8.01-581.8.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/8.01-581.8.html"}],"law_id":72710,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72710,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.8","catch_line":"Admissibility of opinion as evidence; appearance of panel members as witnesses; immunity from civil liability","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-918; 1976, c. 611; 1977, c. 617; 1978, c. 406; 1993, c. 928.","full_text":"An opinion of the medical review panel shall be admissible as evidence in the action brought by the plaintiff, but shall not be conclusive. Either party shall have the right to call, at his cost, any member of the panel, except the judge, as a witness. If called, each witness shall be required to appear and testify. The panelist shall have absolute immunity from civil liability for all communications, findings, opinions and conclusions made in the course and scope of duties prescribed by this chapter.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":261714,"text":"An opinion of the medical review panel shall be admissible as evidence in the action brought by the plaintiff, but shall not be conclusive. Either party shall have the right to call, at his cost, any member of the panel, except the judge, as a witness. If called, each witness shall be required to appear and testify. The panelist shall have absolute immunity from civil liability for all communications, findings, opinions and conclusions made in the course and scope of duties prescribed by this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14491,"edition_id":1,"name":"Medical Malpractice Review Panels; Arbitration of Malpractice Claims","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14387,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:20","permalink":{"id":278897,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14491,"identifier":"1","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1","url":"\/8.01\/21.1\/1\/","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":79489,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/8.01-581.1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.1","metadata":false},{"id":85316,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.10","catch_line":"Per diem and expenses of panel","url":"\/8.01-581.10\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.10","metadata":false},{"id":61203,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.11","catch_line":"Rules and regulations","url":"\/8.01-581.11\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.11","metadata":false},{"id":60108,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.11:1","catch_line":"Objections not waived by participation","url":"\/8.01-581.11_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.11_1","metadata":false},{"id":59889,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.12","catch_line":"Arbitration of medical malpractice claims","url":"\/8.01-581.12\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.12","metadata":false},{"id":73634,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.12:1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/8.01-581.12_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.12_1","metadata":false},{"id":74483,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.12:2","catch_line":"Article not applicable to actions arising prior to July 1, 1976","url":"\/8.01-581.12_2\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.12_2","metadata":false},{"id":75486,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.2","catch_line":"Request for review by medical malpractice review panel; rescission of request; determination on request","url":"\/8.01-581.2\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.2","metadata":false},{"id":77555,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.2:1","catch_line":"Additional parties","url":"\/8.01-581.2_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":86841,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.3","catch_line":"Composition, selection, etc., of panel","url":"\/8.01-581.3\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.3","metadata":false},{"id":67909,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.3:1","catch_line":"Completion of discovery; hearing date; notification to parties and panel members; oath of panel members","url":"\/8.01-581.3_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.3_1","metadata":false},{"id":64621,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.4","catch_line":"Submission of evidence to panel; depositions and discovery; duties of chairman; access to material","url":"\/8.01-581.4\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.4","metadata":false},{"id":59615,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.4:1","catch_line":"Assembly of record","url":"\/8.01-581.4_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":61853,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.4:2","catch_line":"Removal of record for inspection and copying; notice","url":"\/8.01-581.4_2\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.4_2","metadata":false},{"id":77183,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.5","catch_line":"When hearing to be held; notice to parties","url":"\/8.01-581.5\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.5","metadata":false},{"id":65662,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.6","catch_line":"Conduct of proceedings","url":"\/8.01-581.6\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.6","metadata":false},{"id":62667,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.7","catch_line":"Opinion of panel","url":"\/8.01-581.7\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.7","metadata":false},{"id":55894,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.7:1","catch_line":"Limitation on panel opinion","url":"\/8.01-581.7_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.7_1","metadata":false},{"id":72710,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.8","catch_line":"Admissibility of opinion as evidence; appearance of panel members as witnesses; immunity from civil liability","url":"\/8.01-581.8\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.8","metadata":false},{"id":64432,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.9","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/8.01-581.9\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55894,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.7:1","catch_line":"Limitation on panel opinion","url":"\/8.01-581.7_1\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.7_1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":64432,"structure_id":14491,"section_number":"8.01-581.9","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/8.01-581.9\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.9","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/8.01-581.8\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 1976, chapter 611; in 1977, chapter 617; in 1978, chapter 406; in 1993, chapter 928.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":278971,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72710,"identifier":"8.01-581.8","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.8","url":"\/8.01-581.8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/8.01-581.8\/","token":"8.01\/21.1\/1\/8.01-581.8","dublin_core":{"Title":"Admissibility of opinion as evidence; appearance of panel members as witnesses; immunity from civil liability","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 8.01-581.8","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>An <span class=\"dictionary\">opinion<\/span> of the medical review <span class=\"dictionary\">panel<\/span> shall be <span class=\"dictionary\">admissible<\/span> as <span class=\"dictionary\">evidence<\/span> in the <span class=\"dictionary\">action<\/span> brought by the <span class=\"dictionary\">plaintiff<\/span>, but shall not be conclusive. Either <span class=\"dictionary\">party<\/span> shall have the right to call, at his cost, any member of the <span class=\"dictionary\">panel<\/span>, except the <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span>, as a <span class=\"dictionary\">witness<\/span>. If called, each <span class=\"dictionary\">witness<\/span> shall be required to appear and testify. The panelist shall have absolute immunity from civil liability for all communications, <span class=\"dictionary\">findings<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">opinions<\/span> and conclusions made in the course and scope of duties prescribed by this chapter.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nADMISSIBILITY OF OPINION AS EVIDENCE; APPEARANCE OF PANEL MEMBERS AS WITNESSES;\nIMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY (\u00a7 8.01-581.8)\n\nAn opinion of the medical review panel shall be admissible as evidence in the\naction brought by the plaintiff, but shall not be conclusive. Either party shall\nhave the right to call, at his cost, any member of the panel, except the judge,\nas a witness. If called, each witness shall be required to appear and testify.\nThe panelist shall have absolute immunity from civil liability for all\ncommunications, findings, opinions and conclusions made in the course and scope\nof duties prescribed by this chapter.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-918; 1976, c. 611; 1977, c. 617; 1978, c. 406; 1993, c.\n928.","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}}