CHAPTER 767

An Act to amend and reenact § 82-428 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to sexual sterilization of persons over the age of twenty-one. rH 1124]

Approved April 5, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

a That § 32-423 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as
ollows:

§ 32-423. Vasectomy or salpingectomy upon person twenty-one years
of age or older.—It shall be lawful for any physician or surgeon licensed
by this State and acting in collaboration or consultation with at least one
or more physicians or surgeons so licensed, when so requested by any
person twenty-one years of age or over to perform, in a licensed hospital,
upon such person a vasectomy or salpingectomy, as the case may be, pro-
vided a request in writing is made by such person and by his or her
spouse, if there be one, at least thirty days prior to the performance of
such surgical operation and provided further, that prior to or at the time
of such request a full and reasonable medical explanation is given by such
physician or surgeon to such person as to the meaning and consequences
of such operation. No such request shall be necessary for the spouse of
the person requesting such surgical operation if the person requesting
such operation shall state in writing under oath that his or her spouse has
disappeared or that they have been separated continuously for a pertod
of more than two years prior thereto.

As used in this section, “licensed hospital’? means a hospital duly
licensed by the State Board of Health, as a general hospital providing
facilities for surgical care.