Georgia lawmakers responded to medical malpractice claims by instituting a set of patient’s rights. These laws protect patients against abusive or unfair treatment and entitle a patient to be involved in his treatment plan.
Right to Information in Georgia
In Georgia, a patient has a right to be informed of his condition, prognosis and available treatment plans. A patient also has the right to expect his family members or representatives provided with the same information.
Georgia law also provides a patient with the right to receive timely and informative answers to his questions or his concerns addressed. This same rule applies when a patient has questions about the ethics of his treatment and to have a member of the hospital’s ethics committee attend him and answer his questions.
Right to Confidentiality
A patient in Georgia has a right to keep his medical records and other private information confidential. This includes sharing the information with non-treating physicians and staff and third parties, such as family members, from viewing his file. A patient also has the right to reasonable access to his medical records and to have his questions about the records answered.
Right to Safety
Georgia law gives patients the right to undergo treatment in a safe facility. This treatment must be provided free of abuse. In Georgia, a patient may not be physically restrained or forced to ingest sedatives without his consent unless it is medically necessary. A patient is also entitled to care from protective services if requested.
Right to Participate in Treatment Decisions
In Georgia, a patient has the right to participate in decisions regarding his treatment. This includes refusing treatment or procedures at his discretion. This right is given to the parents of a minor child patient or the guardians of an elderly patient if the patient is no longer able to make such decisions. Furthermore, every patient in Georgia has the right to have his level of pain analyzed and managed, if necessary.
Right of Access to File a Grievance
A patient who believes that a Georgia hospital or physician has violated his rights is entitled to be informed about and provided with access to the grievance process. A Georgia can also view a hospital’s behavior code upon request.
Getting Legal Help in Georgia
If you were treated in a Georgia hospital or by physicians licensed in Georgia and believe that your patient rights were violated, seek legal representation. A lawyer will review the facts of your treatment or hospitalization and determine whether or not you have a viable cause of action.
