---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-20-1. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 31-20-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-20-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-20-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-20-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-20-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=853
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-20.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-19-10.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-20-2.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / PERFORMANCE OF STERILIZATION PROCEDURES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-20-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) “Accredited hospital” means a hospital licensed by the Department of Community Health and accredited by a nationally recognized health care accreditation body.

(2) “Physician” means a person duly licensed to practice medicine and surgery without restriction in Georgia pursuant to Chapter 34 of Title 43.

(3) “Sterilization procedure” means any procedure which is designed or intended to prevent conception and which is not designed to unsex the patient by removing the ovaries or testicles.

## History

Ga. L. 1966, p. 453, § 3; Ga. L. 1970, p. 683, § 4; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 31; Ga. L. 2008, p. 12, § 2-30/SB 433; Ga. L. 2012, p. 337, § 7/SB 361.