<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60025</law_id><section_number>32.1-249</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-323.01</reference><reference>18.2-323.02</reference><reference>54.1-2806</reference><reference>8.01-50</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Vital Records</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Definitions and Administrative Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Dead body</span>&#x201D; means a human body or such parts of such human body from the condition of which it reasonably may be concluded that death occurred.
		&#x201C;Fetal death&#x201D; means death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, regardless of the duration of pregnancy; death is indicated by the <span class="dictionary">fact</span> that after such expulsion or extraction the fetus does not breathe or show any other <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles.
		a. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Induced termination of pregnancy</span>&#x201D; means the intentional interruption of pregnancy with the intention to produce other than a live-born infant or to remove a dead fetus and which does not result in a <span class="dictionary">live birth</span>.
		b. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Spontaneous fetal death</span>&#x201D; means the expulsion or extraction of a product of human conception resulting in other than a <span class="dictionary">live birth</span> and which is not an <span class="dictionary">induced termination of pregnancy</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">File</span>&#x201D; means the presentation of a vital record provided for in this chapter for <span class="dictionary">registration</span> by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Final disposition</span>&#x201D; means the burial, interment, cremation, removal from the Commonwealth or other authorized disposition of a <span class="dictionary">dead body</span> or fetus.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Institution</span>&#x201D; means any establishment, public or private, which provides inpatient medical, surgical, or diagnostic care or treatment, or nursing, custodial or domiciliary care, or to which <span class="dictionary">persons</span> are committed by <span class="dictionary">law</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Live birth</span>&#x201D; means the complete or <span class="dictionary">substantial expulsion or extraction</span> from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. As used in this definition, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">substantial expulsion or extraction</span>&#x201D; means, in the case of a headfirst presentation, the infant&#x2019;s entire head is outside the body of the mother or, in the case of a breech delivery, when any part of the infant&#x2019;s trunk past the navel is outside the body of the mother.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Physician</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">person</span> authorized or licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in this Commonwealth.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Registration</span>&#x201D; means the acceptance by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> and the incorporation of vital records as provided for in this chapter into its official records.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">System of vital records</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">registration</span>, collection, preservation, amendment, and certification of vital records; the collection of other reports required by this chapter; and related activities.
		&#x201C;Vital records&#x201D; means certificates or reports of births, deaths, <span class="dictionary">fetal deaths</span>, adoptions, marriages, divorces or <span class="dictionary">annulments</span> and amendment data related thereto.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 32-353.4; 1960, c. 451; 1975, c. 267; 1979, c. 711; 1983, c. 240; 2003, cc. 961, 963; 2020, c. 922.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
