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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57136</law_id><section_number>8.01-581.20:1</section_number><catch_line>Admissibility of expressions of sympathy</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="21.1">Medical Malpractice</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Miscellaneous Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In any <span class="dictionary">civil action</span> brought by an alleged victim of an <span class="dictionary">unanticipated outcome</span> of health care, or in any arbitration or medical <span class="dictionary">malpractice</span> review <span class="dictionary">panel</span> proceeding related to such <span class="dictionary">civil action</span>, the portion of statements, writings, affirmations, benevolent conduct, or benevolent gestures expressing sympathy, commiseration, condolence, compassion, or a general sense of benevolence, together with apologies that are made by a <span class="dictionary">health care provider</span> or an agent of a <span class="dictionary">health care provider</span> to the <span class="dictionary">patient</span>, a <span class="dictionary">relative</span> of the <span class="dictionary">patient</span>, or a <span class="dictionary">representative</span> of the <span class="dictionary">patient</span>, shall be inadmissible as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of an admission of liability or as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of an admission against interest. A statement of fault that is part of or in addition to any of the above shall not be made inadmissible by this section.
		For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
		&#x201C;Health care&#x201D; has the same definition as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/8.01-581.1/">8.01-581.1</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Health care provider</span>&#x201D; has the same definition as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/8.01-581.1/">8.01-581.1</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Relative</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">patient</span>&#x2019;s spouse, parent, grandparent, stepfather, stepmother, child, grandchild, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, or spouse&#x2019;s parents. In addition, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">relative</span>&#x201D; includes any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who has a family-type relationship with the <span class="dictionary">patient</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Representative</span>&#x201D; means a legal guardian, attorney, <span class="dictionary">person</span> designated to make decisions on behalf of a <span class="dictionary">patient</span> under a medical <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span>, or any <span class="dictionary">person</span> recognized in <span class="dictionary">law</span> or custom as a <span class="dictionary">patient</span>&#x2019;s agent.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Unanticipated outcome</span>&#x201D; means the outcome of the delivery of health care that differs from an expected result.</p></section></text><history>2005, cc. 649, 692; 2009, c. 414.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
