2006 Code of Virginia § 54.1-2991 - Effect of declaration; suicide; insurance; declarations executed prior to effective date

54.1-2991. Effect of declaration; suicide; insurance; declarations executedprior to effective date.

The withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures in accordancewith the provisions of this article shall not, for any purpose, constitute asuicide. Nor shall the making of an advance directive pursuant to thisarticle affect the sale, procurement or issuance of any policy of lifeinsurance, nor shall the making of an advance directive or the issuance of aDurable Do Not Resuscitate Order pursuant to this article be deemed to modifythe terms of an existing policy of life insurance. No policy of lifeinsurance shall be legally impaired or invalidated by the withholding orwithdrawal of life-prolonging procedures from an insured patient inaccordance with this article, notwithstanding any term of the policy to thecontrary. A person shall not be required to make an advance directive orconsent to a Durable Do Not Resuscitate order as a condition for beinginsured for, or receiving, health care services.

The declaration of any qualified patient made prior to July 1, 1983, anadvance directive made prior to July 1, 1992, or the issuance, in accordancewith the then current law, of a Do Not Resuscitate Order or an EmergencyMedical Services Do Not Resuscitate Order prior to July 1, 1999, shall begiven effect as provided in this article.

(1983, c. 532, 54-325.8:11; 1988, c. 765; 1992, cc. 412, 748, 772; 1999, c.814.)