Section 10. Definitions

Part I. Definitions and Requirements for Licensure

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

"Abortion" means the use of an instrument, medicine, drug, or other substance or device with the intent to terminate the pregnancy of a woman, known to be pregnant, for reasons other than a live birth or to remove a dead fetus. Spontaneous miscarriage is excluded from this definition.

"Abortion facility" means a facility in which five or more first trimester abortions per month are performed.

"Administrator" means the person appointed by the governing body as having responsibility for the overall management of the abortion facility. Job titles may include director, executive director, office manager, or business manager.

"Commissioner" means the State Health Commissioner.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Health.

"First trimester" means the first 12 weeks from conception based on an appropriate clinical estimate by a licensed physician.

"Informed written consent" means the knowing and voluntary written consent to abortion by a pregnant woman of any age in accordance with § 18.2-76 of the Code of Virginia.

"Licensee" means the person, partnership, corporation, association, organization, or professional entity who owns or on whom rests the ultimate responsibility and authority for the conduct of the abortion facility.

"Minor" means a patient under the age of 18.

"Patient" means any person seeking or obtaining services at an abortion facility.

"Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine in Virginia.

"Spontaneous miscarriage" means the expulsion or extraction of a product of human conception resulting in other than a live birth and which is not an abortion.

"Trimester" means a 12-week period of pregnancy.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 29, Issue 19, eff. June 20, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-127 of the Code of Virginia.