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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 12. Health
Agency 5. Department of Health
Chapter 66. Regulations Governing Durable Do Not Resuscitate Orders
2/28/2026

12VAC5-66-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Alternate Durable DNR jewelry" means a Durable DNR bracelet or necklace issued by a seller approved by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services.

"Board" means the State Board of Health.

"Cardiac arrest" means the cessation of a functional heartbeat.

"Commissioner" means the State Health Commissioner.

"CPR" or "cardiopulmonary resuscitation" shall include cardiac compression, endotracheal intubation and other advanced airway management, artificial ventilation, defibrillation, administration of cardiac resuscitative medications, and related procedures.

"Durable Do Not Resuscitate Order" or "Durable DNR Order" means a written physician's order issued pursuant to § 54.1-2987.1 of the Code of Virginia in a Durable Do Not Resuscitate Order form authorized by the board, to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation from an individual in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. For purposes of this chapter, a Durable Do Not Resuscitate Order or Other DNR Order shall not be construed as an advance directive. When used in this chapter, the term "Durable DNR Order" shall include any authorized Alternate Durable DNR jewelry issued in conjunction with an original Durable DNR Order. "Durable DNR Order" shall also include a physician order for scope of treatment (POST) or physician orders for life sustaining treatment (POLST) form. Durable DNR Order Forms, including POST or POLST forms, shall be filled out and signed by a physician and signed by the patient or patient's authorized representative.

"Emergency medical services" or "EMS" shall have the same meaning as in § 32.1-111.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"Emergency medical services agency" or "EMS agency" shall have the same meaning as in § 32.1-111.1 of the Code of Virginia.

"Emergency medical services personnel" or "EMS personnel" shall have the same meaning as in § 32.1-111.1 of the Code of Virginia.

“Health care personnel" means any qualified emergency medical services personnel and any licensed health care practitioner functioning in any facility, program, or organization operated or licensed by the State Board of Health, the Department of Social Services, or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) or operated, licensed, or owned by another state agency, or a continuing care retirement community registered with the State Corporation Commission pursuant to Chapter 49 (§ 38.2-4900 et seq.) of Title 38.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Incapable of making an informed decision" shall have the same meaning as in § 54.1-2982 of the Code of Virginia.

"Office of EMS" or "OEMS" means the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services within the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

"Other Do Not Resuscitate Order" or " other DNR Order" means a written physician's order not to resuscitate a patient in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest on a form other than the authorized state standardized Durable DNR Order Form, POST form, or POLST form under policies and procedures of the health care facility to which the individual who is the subject of the order has been admitted.

"Person authorized to consent on the patient's behalf" means any person authorized by law to consent on behalf of a patient incapable of making an informed decision as defined by § 54.1-2982 of the Code of Virginia or, in the case of a minor child, the parent or other legal guardian having custody of the child.

"Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia or in the jurisdiction where the treatment is to be rendered or withheld.

"Qualified health care facility" means a facility, program, or organization operated or licensed by the State Board of Health, the Department of Social Services, or by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) or operated, licensed, or owned by another state agency and licensed health care practitioners at any continuing care retirement community registered with the State Corporation Commission pursuant to Chapter 49 (§ 38.2-4900 et seq.) of Title 38.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Respiratory arrest" means cessation of breathing.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12, 32.1-111.4, and 54.1-2987.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 12, eff. March 27, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 21, eff. July 20, 2011; Volume 33, Issue 3, eff. November 19, 2016; Volume 42, Issue 10, eff. February 12, 2026.

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