Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-74.1 (2026)

Abortion, etc., when necessary to save life of woman

✓ current as of May 2026

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In the event it is necessary for a licensed physician to terminate a human pregnancy or assist in the termination of a human pregnancy by performing an abortion or causing a miscarriage on any woman in order to save her life, in the opinion of the physician so performing the abortion or causing the miscarriage, §§ 18.2-71, 18.2-73 and 18.2-74 shall not be applicable.

Code 1950, § 18.1-62.3; 1970, c. 508; 1975, cc. 14, 15.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases, 1981–1999 · leading case: Simopoulos v. Commonwealth, 277 S.E.2d 194 (Va. 1981).

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Simopoulos v. Commonwealth, 277 S.E.2d 194 (Va. 1981). · cites it 3× “§ 18.2-74.1. 6. Hospitals and physicians are not required to perform any process authorized by Article 9, and persons who register conscientious objections may refuse to participate in the procedures and are protected against damage suits and other recriminatory actions growing…”

Richmond Med. Ctr. for Women v. Gilmore, 11 F. Supp. 2d 795 (E.D. Va. 1998). · cites it 3× “Under Va.Code § 18.2-74.1, if termination of a pregnancy by performing an abortion is necessary to save the life of the woman, none of the proscriptive terms of §§ 18.”

Richmond Med. Ctr. for Women v. Gilmore, 55 F. Supp. 2d 441 (E.D. Va. 1999). · cites it 2× “2-74, it is lawful to perform an abortion after the second trimester of pregnancy if: (i) the abortion is performed in a licensed hospital; (ii) the attending physician and two consulting physicians certify that the "continuation of the pregnancy is likely to result in the death…”

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