54.1-2957.03 - Certified nurse midwives; required disclosures; liability. - Virginia Statutes

§ 54.1-2957.03. Certified nurse midwives; required disclosures; liability.

A. A certified nurse midwife who provides health care services to a patientoutside of a hospital or birthing center, as defined in subsection E of §32.1-11.5, shall disclose to that patient, when appropriate, information onhealth risks associated with births outside of a hospital or birthing centerincluding but not limited to risks associated with vaginal births after aprior cesarean section, breech births, births by women experiencing high-riskpregnancies, and births involving multiple gestation.

B. The certified nurse midwife who provided health care to a patient shall beliable for the midwife's negligent, grossly negligent, or willful and wantonacts or omissions. Except as otherwise provided by law, any (i) doctor ofmedicine or osteopathy who did not collaborate or consult with the midwiferegarding the patient and who has not previously treated the patient for thispregnancy, (ii) nurse, (iii) prehospital emergency medical personnel, or (iv)hospital as defined in § 32.1-123 or agents thereof, who provides screeningand stabilization health care services to a patient as a result of acertified nurse midwife's negligent, grossly negligent, or willful and wantonacts or omissions, shall be immune from liability for acts or omissionsconstituting ordinary negligence.

(2006, c. 750; 2009, c. 646.)