As used in this article, the term:
- “Advance directive for health care” means a written document voluntarily executed by a patient in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 31-32-5.
- “Clinical record” means a written record pertaining to an individual consumer and shall include all medical records, progress notes, charts, admission and discharge data, and all other information which is recorded by a services provider or other entities responsible for a consumer’s care and treatment under this chapter and which pertains to the consumer’s hospitalization, treatment, or habilitation.
- “Consumer” means a natural person who has been or is a recipient of disability services as defined in Code Section 37-1-1 and shall include natural persons who are seeking disability services.
- “Durable power of attorney for health care” means a written document voluntarily executed by an individual creating a health care agency in accordance with Chapter 36 of Title 31, as such chapter existed on and before June 30, 2007.
- “Estate representative” means an executor, executrix, administrator, or administratrix of the estate of a deceased consumer.
- “Guardian” shall have the same meaning as provided in Code Section 29-1-1.
- “Health care agent” means an agent under a durable power of attorney for health care, a health care agent under an advance directive for health care, or a mental health care agent under a psychiatric advance directive.
- “Office” means the office of disability services ombudsman created pursuant to subsection (a) of Code Section 37-2-31.
- “Ombudsman” means the disability services ombudsman appointed as provided for in Code Section 37-2-32.
(9.1) “Psychiatric advance directive” means a written document voluntarily executed by a patient in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 37-11-9.
- “Rights” means such rights as provided by statute, rule, or regulation for a consumer of a services provider.
- “Services provider” means a public or private person, corporation, or business which provides disability services operated by the division, under letter of agreement with the division, or under contract with the division.
- “Safety” means freedom from physical harm.
- “Well-being” means quality of life of a consumer, including the environment of care.
History. Code 1981, § 37-2-30 , enacted by Ga. L. 2008, p. 133, § 3/HB 535; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 3-11/HB 228; Ga. L. 2022, p. 611, § 2-22/HB 752.
The 2022 amendment, effective July 1, 2022, in paragraph (7), substituted “health care, a health care agent” for “health care or health care agent” and added “, or a mental health care agent under a psychiatric advance directive” at the end; and added paragraph (9.1).