Virginia Law

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

"Agent" means an adult appointed by the declarant under an advance directive, executed or made in accordance with the provisions of § 54.1-2983 of the Code of Virginia to make health care decisions for him.

"Alternate Durable DNR jewelry" means a Durable DNR bracelet or necklace issued by a vendor approved by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services. A Durable DNR Order must be obtained by the patient, from a physician, to obtain Alternate Durable DNR jewelry.

"Board" means the State Board of Health.

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

"Commissioner" means the State Health Commissioner.

"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 form or forms authorized by the board to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation from an individual in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. For purposes of this chapter, cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall include cardiac compression, endotracheal intubation and other advanced airway management, artificial ventilation, defibrillation, administration of cardiac resuscitative medications, and related procedures. As the terms "advance directive" and "Durable Do Not Resuscitate Order" are used in this article, a Durable Do Not Resuscitate Order or other DNR Order is not and shall not be construed as an advance directive. When used in these regulations, 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) form. Durable DNR orders including POST forms shall be completed and signed by a licensed practitioner and signed by the patient or patient's authorized representative.

"Emergency Medical Services" or "EMS" means the services rendered by an agency licensed by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, an equivalent agency licensed by another state or a similar agency of the federal government when operating within this Commonwealth.

"Emergency medical services agency" or "EMS agency" means any agency, licensed to engage in the business, service, or regular activity, whether or not for profit, of transporting or rendering immediate medical care to such persons who are sick, injured, wounded or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.

"Incapable of making an informed decision" means the inability of an adult patient, because of mental illness, intellectual disability, or any other mental or physical disorder that precludes communication or impairs judgment, to make an informed decision about providing, withholding, or withdrawing a specific medical treatment or course of treatment because he is unable to understand the nature, extent, or probable consequences of the proposed medical decision, or to make a rational evaluation of the risks and benefits of alternatives to that decision. For purposes of this article, persons who are deaf or dysphasic or have other communication disorders but who are otherwise mentally competent and able to communicate by means other than speech, shall not be considered incapable of making an informed decision. The determination that the patient is "incapable of making an informed decision" shall be made in accordance with § 54.1-2983.2 of the Code of Virginia.

"Office of EMS" or "OEMS" means the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services. The Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services is a state office located 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 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 the patient incapable of making an informed decision or, in the case of a minor child, the parent or parents having custody of the child or the child's legal guardian or as otherwise provided by law.

"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 emergency medical services personnel" means personnel certified to practice as defined by § 32.1-111.1 of the Code of Virginia when acting within the scope of their certification.

"Qualified health care facility" means a facility, program, or organization operated or licensed by the State Board of Health or by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) or operated, licensed, or owned by another state agency.

"Qualified health care personnel" means any qualified emergency medical services personnel and any licensed health care provider or practitioner functioning in any facility, program, or organization operated or licensed by the State Board of Health or by DBHDS or operated, licensed, or owned by another state agency.

"Respiratory arrest" means cessation of breathing.