---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-7-191. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 31-7-191
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-7-191 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-191
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-191.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-7-191/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=442
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.
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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 / REGULATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE FACILITIES / PATIENT CENTERED AND FAMILY FOCUSED PALLIATIVE CARE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-7-191. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Department” means the Department of Community Health.

(2) “Healthcare facility” means hospitals; other special care units, including but not limited to podiatric facilities; skilled nursing facilities; intermediate care facilities; assisted living communities; personal care homes; ambulatory surgical or obstetrical facilities; health maintenance organizations; home health agencies; and diagnostic, treatment, or rehabilitation centers.

(3) “Palliative care” means those interventions which are intended to alleviate suffering and to achieve relief from, reduction of, or elimination of pain and of other physical, emotional, social, or spiritual symptoms of distress to achieve the best quality of life for the patients and their families.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-7-191, enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 155, § 1/HB 509; Ga. L. 2025, p. 332, § 7-1/SB 96, effective July 1, 2025.

## Amendments

The 2025 amendment, effective July 1, 2025, deleted former paragraphs (1) and (3), which read:

“(1) ‘Commissioner’ means the commissioner of community health.” and

“(3) ‘Georgia Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council’ or ‘council’ means the advisory council created pursuant to Code Section 31-7-192.”; redesignated former paragraphs (2), (4), and (5) as present paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively; and, in paragraph (2), substituted “Healthcare facility” for “Health care facility”.