---
title: O.C.G.A. § 37-3-149. Establishment of procedures for receiving patients’ and staff complaints; making of final decisions; establishment of rules and regulations implementing procedures; complaint procedures as alternative to legal remedies.
collection: code
id: 37-3-149
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 37-3-149 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-3-149
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-3-149.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-3-149/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t37-t39-(v28)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=c6b9c518_0#page=205
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/37-3.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-3-148.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 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: MENTAL HEALTH / EXAMINATION, TREATMENT, ETC., FOR MENTAL ILLNESS / RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF PATIENTS, THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, ETC., GENERALLY / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 37-3-149. Establishment of procedures for receiving patients’ and staff complaints; making of final decisions; establishment of rules and regulations implementing procedures; complaint procedures as alternative to legal remedies.

Each facility shall establish procedures whereby complaints of the patient or complaints of the staff concerning treatment of the patient can be speedily heard, with final decisions to be made by the superintendent, the regional state hospital administrator, or an advisory committee, whichever is appropriate. The board shall establish reasonable rules and regulations for the implementation of such procedures. However, the patient shall not be required to utilize these procedures in lieu of other available legal remedies.

## History

Code 1933, § 88-502.22, enacted by Ga. L. 1978, p. 1789, § 1; Ga. L. 2002, p. 1324, § 1-11.

## Cross References

Reports and investigations regarding mistreatment of hospital patients, residents of long-term care facilities, §§ 31-7-9, 31-8-50 et seq., 31-8-80 et seq., 31-8-100 et seq.