Virginia legal term
Medical emergency in Virginia Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session
In Virginia criminal law, “Medical emergency” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Virginia criminal code.
What does “Medical emergency” mean in Virginia criminal law?
"Medical emergency" means any condition which, on the basis of the physician's good faith clinical judgment, so complicates the medical condition of the pregnant minor as to necessitate the immediate abortion of her pregnancy to avert her death or for which a delay will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. (Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-241)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.