                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CHIROPRACTOR, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE, OR
OPTOMETRIST AS EXPERT WITNESS (§ 8.01-401.2)

A. A doctor of chiropractic, when properly qualified, may testify as an expert
witness in a court of law as to etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment,
treatment plan, and disability, including anatomical, physiological, and
pathological considerations within the scope of the practice of chiropractic as
defined in &#xA7; 54.1-2900.

B. A physician assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse, when properly
qualified, may testify as an expert witness in a court of law as to etiology,
diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, treatment plan, and disability, including
anatomical, physiological, and pathological considerations within the scope of
his activities as authorized pursuant to &#xA7; 54.1-2952 or 54.1-2957,
respectively. However, no physician assistant or advanced practice registered
nurse shall be permitted to testify as an expert witness for or against (i) a
defendant doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine in a medical malpractice
action regarding the standard of care of a doctor of medicine or osteopathic
medicine or (ii) a defendant health care provider in a medical malpractice
action regarding causation.

C. An optometrist, when properly qualified, may testify as an expert witness in
a court of law as to etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, treatment plan,
and disability, including anatomical, physiological, and pathological
considerations within the scope of the practice of optometry as defined in
&#xA7; 54.1-3201.

HISTORY: 1984, c. 569; 2014, cc. 361, 391; 2015, cc. 295, 306; 2017, c. 413;
2023, c. 183; 2024, cc. 718, 764.