                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

EFFECT OF DECLARATION; SUICIDE; INSURANCE; DECLARATIONS EXECUTED PRIOR TO
EFFECTIVE DATE (§ 54.1-2991)

The withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures in accordance with
the provisions of this article shall not, for any purpose, constitute a suicide.
Nor shall the making of an advance directive pursuant to this article affect the
sale, procurement or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor shall the
making of an advance directive or the issuance of a Durable Do Not Resuscitate
Order pursuant to this article be deemed to modify the terms of an existing
policy of life insurance. No policy of life insurance shall be legally impaired
or invalidated by the withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures
from an insured patient in accordance with this article, notwithstanding any
term of the policy to the contrary. A person shall not be required to make an
advance directive or consent to a Durable Do Not Resuscitate order as a
condition for being insured for, or receiving, health care services.
		The declaration of any patient made prior to July 1, 1983, an advance
directive made prior to July 1, 1992, or the issuance, in accordance with the
then current law, of a Do Not Resuscitate Order or an Emergency Medical Services
Do Not Resuscitate Order prior to July 1, 1999, shall be given effect as
provided in this article.

HISTORY: 1983, c. 532, § 54-325.8:11; 1988, c. 765; 1992, cc. 412, 748, 772;
1999, c. 814; 2009, cc. 211, 268.