---
title: O.C.G.A. § 37-7-161. Securing of least restrictive alternative placement; assisting patient in securing placement in noninstitutional community facilities and programs.
collection: code
id: 37-7-161
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 37-7-161 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-7-161
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-7-161.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-7-161/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=334
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/37-7.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-7-160.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/37-7-162.md
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 / HOSPITALIZATION AND TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLICS, DRUG DEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS, AND DRUG ABUSERS / RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF PATIENTS, THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, AND OTHERS GENERALLY / RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AS TO MANNER OF CARE AND TREATMENT AND AS TO MAINTENANCE AND RELEASE OF CLINICAL RECORDS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 37-7-161. Securing of least restrictive alternative placement; assisting patient in securing placement in noninstitutional community facilities and programs.

It is the policy of the state that the least restrictive alternative placement be secured for every patient at every stage of his medical treatment and care. It shall be the duty of the facility to assist the patient in securing placement in noninstitutional community facilities and programs.

## History

Code 1933, § 88-402.21, enacted by Ga. L. 1978, p. 1856, § 1.