---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-52-4. Eligibility criteria.
collection: code
id: 31-52-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-52-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-52-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-52-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-52-4/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=1088
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/31-52.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-52-3.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-52-5.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 / TERMINALLY ILL PATIENT’S RIGHT TO TRY INVESTIGATIONAL DRUGS, BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, AND DEVICES / RIGHT TO TRY
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-52-4. Eligibility criteria.

In order for a person to be considered an eligible patient to access an investigational drug, biological product, or device pursuant to this article, a physician must document in writing that the person:

(1) Has a terminal illness;

(2) Has, in consultation with the physician, considered all other treatment options currently approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration;

(3) Has been given a recommendation by the physician for an investigational drug, biological product, or device; and

(4) Has given written informed consent for the use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-52-4, enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 345, § 1/HB 34; Ga. L. 2025, p. 455, § 3/SB 72, effective July 1, 2025.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2025, p. 455, § 1/SB 72, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “This Act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Hope for Georgia Patients Act.’”

## Amendments

The 2025 amendment, effective July 1, 2025, substituted “article” for “chapter” in the first sentence of this Code section.