SB708 • 2026

Physicians; informed consent, disclosure of certain info. prior to hysterectomy or oophorectomy.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-2971.2, relating to physicians; informed consent; disclosure of certain information prior to hysterectomy or oophorectomy.</p>

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Stuart
Last action: 2026-02-12
Official status: Continued
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Physicians Must Provide Information Before Hysterectomy or Oophorectomy

This law requires doctors to provide specific information and obtain written consent from patients at least two weeks before performing a hysterectomy or oophorectomy, unless it's an emergency.

What This Bill Does

Requires doctors to inform patients about the risks of hysterectomies and oophorectomies at least two weeks before the procedure.
Provides patients with contact details for the Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services (HERS) Foundation.
Gives patients diagrams showing female pelvic organs, supporting structures, nerve supply, and blood supply.
Requires patients to sign a statement confirming they understand all provided information before the procedure can take place.

Who It Names or Affects

Patients who are scheduled for hysterectomies or oophorectomies
Doctors performing these procedures

Terms To Know

Hysterectomy: A surgical procedure to remove a woman's uterus.
Oophorectomy: Surgical removal of one or both ovaries in women.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not apply if the hysterectomy or oophorectomy is performed as an emergency procedure.
It's unclear how this will be enforced and what penalties, if any, might exist for non-compliance.

Bill History

2026-02-12 Education and Health
Continued to 2027 in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-06 Health Professions
Assigned Education sub: Health Professions
2026-01-14 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105536D
2026-01-14 Education and Health
Referred to Committee on Education and Health

Official Summary Text

Physicians; informed consent; disclosure of certain information prior to hysterectomy or oophorectomy.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
54.1-2971.2
, relating to physicians; informed consent; disclosure of certain information prior to hysterectomy or oophorectomy.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
54.1-2971.2
as follows:

§
54.1-2971.2
. Informed consent for hysterectomy and oophorectomy procedures.

A. Except as provided in subsection
C
, before a physician performs a hysterectomy or an oophorectomy, the physician shall obtain oral and written informed consent from the patient. The informed consent procedure must ensure that
, at least two weeks before the patient signs the consent form,
the patient
is provided
with
:

1. Notice that the patient is free to withhold or withdraw consent to the procedure at any time before the hysterectomy or oophorectomy without affecting the
patient's
right to future care or treatment and without loss or withdrawal of any state or federally funded program benefits to which the
patient
might be otherwise entitled.

2. Referral to the Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services (HERS) Foundation and the HERS website.

3. A color copy of the following diagrams:

a. The female pelvic organs.

b. Supporting structures of the female pelvic organs.

c. Nerve supply to the uterus and ovaries.

d. Arteries and veins that provide blood supply to the female pelvic organs.

B.
The patient shall sign a written statement before the hysterectomy or oophorectomy is performed indicating
that
the patient read and understood the information provided under subsection
A
and that the patient's attending physician and surgeon, or the
attending
physician's and surgeon's designee or designees
,
discussed this information with the patient
.
The statement must indicate that the patient's
attending
physician or the physician's designee
advised the patient
that the hysterectomy or oophorectomy will render the patient permanently sterile and incapable of having children.

C. The informed consent procedure under this section shall not be required
when the hysterectomy or oophorectomy is performed in a life-threatening emergency situation in which the
attending
physician determines prior written informed consent is not possible.