I fully support this petition.  I've read many of the comments in opposition to this proposed regulation by commenters and they are not based on facts or common sense.  Many in opposition state this would harm healthcare workers if the regulation would be allowed to pass.  I have two questions to ask these commenters (and the Board of Medicine):

First, if you truly believe that your mask wearing as a practitioner or healthcare worker protects you from the Coronavirus, why does it matter if a patient wears a mask or not? Is it not the patient's decision?  The state of Virginia has already stated that the grave danger to employers does not exist anymore from this virus based on their repeal of the Safety and Health Codes Board Standard for Infectious Disease Prevention of the SARSCoV-2 Virus That Causes COVID-19 (16VAC25-220) on March 21, 2022 (http://register.dls.virginia.gov/details.aspx?id=10202). 

Second, where in the Virginia Board of Medicine regulations or Virginia constitution (or anywhere for that matter) does a practitioner get to dictate what a patient's acceptable risk tolerance level is? Does your neighbor get to dictate to you that you drive a Volvo as opposed to a Ford? No, they cannot, and neither can a practitioner demand that a patient wear a mask, or demand they receive a "vaccine" in order to receive life-saving treatment, such as a liver transplant.  Commenters in opposition to this petition are conveniently ignoring the fact that if a healthcare worker (or a patient for that matter) wants to wear a mask, this regulation DOES NOT STOP THEM IN ANY WAY. If you want to wear a mask and you feel it protects you, by all means, go ahead.  This petition just prohibits a practitioner from demanding that you as a patient must wear one in order for the patient to receive necessary compassionate medical care.