---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-36A-5. Certification by physician.
collection: code
id: 31-36A-5
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-36A-5 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-36A-5
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-36A-5.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-36A-5/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=985
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/31-36A.md
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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 / TEMPORARY HEALTH CARE PLACEMENT DECISION MAKER FOR AN ADULT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-36A-5. Certification by physician.

An attending physician, treating physician, or other physician licensed according to the laws of the State of Georgia, after having personally examined an adult, may certify in the adult’s medical records the following:

(1) The adult is unable to consent for himself or herself; and

(2) It is the physician’s belief that it is in the adult’s best interest to be discharged from a hospital, institution, medical center, or other health care institution providing health or personal care for treatment of any type of physical or mental condition and to be transferred to or admitted to an alternative facility or placement, including, but not limited to, nursing facilities, assisted living communities, personal care homes, rehabilitation facilities, and home and community based programs.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-36A-5, enacted by Ga. L. 1999, p. 485, § 5; Ga. L. 2011, p. 227, § 21/SB 178.