On Patients' Rights

Law of Georgia

On Patients' Rights

Article 1🔗

The purpose of this Law is the protection of a citizen's rights in the field of health care, as well as ensuring the inviolability of his/her honour and dignity.

Article 2🔗

In the field of health care, a citizen's rights and well-being have priority over the interests of medicine and medical science.

Article 3🔗

The legislation of Georgia on a citizen's rights in the field of health care consists of the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties and agreements of Georgia, the Law of Georgia on Health Care, this Law and other normative acts.

Article 4🔗

The terms used in this Law (unless otherwise specifically provided) have the following meanings:

a) genome – a set of chromosomes that contains hereditary factors (genes);

b) informed consent – the consent of the patient, or, where the patient is a minor under 7, of the patient's legal representative, to the provision of a particular medical service after the patient or the patient's legal representative has been provided with information:

b.a) about the nature and necessity of the medical service;

b.b) about the expected outcomes of the medical service;

b.c) about the expected risk to the patient's health and life associated with the medical service;

b.d) about other, alternative options for the intended medical service, their accompanying risks and possible effectiveness;

b.e) about the expected consequences of refusal of the medical service;

b.f) about financial and social matters related to the information provided for by subparagraphs “b.a”–“b.e” of this Article;

c) palliative treatment – medical service by which the patient's condition does not radically improve, the unfavourable prognosis does not change, and the purpose of which is the temporary alleviation of the patient's condition;

d) patient – any person who, regardless of his/her health condition, uses, needs, or intends to use the services of the health protection system;

e) patient's relative – a person who, in accordance with the order established by the legislation of Georgia, has a preferential right to participate in the resolution of matters related to the provision of medical service to the patient or to his/her death;

f) patient's legal representative – the patient's guardian or his/her trustee;

g) provider of medical service – a person who, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, provides medical service;

h) medical service – any manipulation and procedure performed for the patient by the provider of medical service for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, prophylaxis, or medical rehabilitation;

i) medical records – information recorded by the provider of medical service on paper, as well as on various information carriers, including in a computer, related to the provision of medical service to the patient;

j) terminal condition – the pre-death stage of an incurable disease.

k) palliative care − a service with a multidisciplinary approach that, through the early detection, correct assessment and treatment of pain and other physical and psychosocial needs, psychosocial and spiritual support, and the prevention and alleviation of suffering, improves the quality of life of patients with a chronic disease and/or a life-threatening disease and their family members;

l) Hospice care − part of palliative care, intended for incurable patients whose estimated life expectancy is limited. Hospice care is provided by a specialized palliative care team. As necessary, it is provided both in a hospice and at home, in a long-term care facility or in a multi-profile inpatient medical facility. During hospice care, medical interventions aimed at curing the disease are no longer used, and only medical interventions aimed at managing the symptoms of the disease and improving the quality of life are carried out. In the case of hospice care for children, the estimated life expectancy may not be limited and, in parallel, interventions aimed at treating the underlying disease may be carried out.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2007 No. 4722-LHG I, No. 18, 22.05.2007, Art. 152

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2015 No. 3379 – website, 31.03.2015

Law of Georgia of 19 February 2019 No. 4278 – website, 25.02.2019

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 860 – website, 03.07.2025

Article 5🔗

Every citizen of Georgia has the right to receive from every provider of medical services medical services consistent with the professional and service standards recognized and established in the country.

Article 6🔗

1. Discrimination of a patient on the grounds of race, skin colour, language, sex, genetic inheritance, belief and confession, political and other views, national, ethnic and social belonging, origin, property and rank status, place of residence, disease, sexual orientation or personal negative attitude is prohibited.

2. The conditions for restricting the rights of a patient in connection with a particular disease shall be determined by the legislation of Georgia.

Article 7🔗

A patient has the right to apply without hindrance to another doctor or medical facility in order to seek a second opinion.

Article 8🔗

A patient has the right to choose and at any time to change the provider of medical services.

Article 9🔗

A citizen of Georgia who is in another state, as well as a foreign national and a stateless person who are in Georgia, have the right to health protection guaranteed in accordance with the international treaties and agreements of Georgia, and in their absence, the legislation of the country where the person is located shall apply.

Article 10🔗

A patient or his/her legal representative has the right to apply to court and demand:

a) compensation for property and non-property damage caused by:

a.a) violation of the patient's rights;

a.b) erroneous medical action;

a.c) other defects in the functioning of the medical facility;

a.d) improperly exercised supervision and regulation by the state;

b) suspension or revocation of the licence for the activity of medical personnel;

c) change of state medical and sanitary standards.

Article 11🔗

Equal accessibility of medical services shall be implemented through state medical programmes.

Article 12🔗

1. The State shall protect the patient's right to receive medical services, without the urgent provision of which the patient's death, restriction of capabilities or significant deterioration of health condition is inevitable.

2. If a patient requires the provision of urgent medical services, without which the patient's death, restriction of capabilities or significant deterioration of health condition is inevitable, and the medical service provider is unable to provide such medical services, it shall be obliged to provide the patient, his/her relative or legal representative with complete information as to which medical institution the patient may receive urgent medical services at.

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 860 – website, 03.07.2025.

Article 13🔗

1. The State shall provide patients with rare diseases with medical services in accordance with professional and service standards recognised and implemented in the country.

2. The list of rare diseases shall be determined by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3066 – website, 11.07.2018.

Article 14🔗

In the event of a shortage of human, technical, financial and/or other resources necessary for medical services, the selection of a potential patient shall be made solely on the basis of medical criteria, without taking other factors into account.

Article 15🔗

A patient shall have the right to demand from the medical service provider respect for his/her dignity, traditions, confession and personal values.

Article 16🔗

1. Every citizen of Georgia shall have the right to receive complete, objective, timely and comprehensible information about the factors that contribute to the preservation of his/her health or adversely affect it.

2. The State shall be obliged, through the mass media or individually, upon request, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, to provide the citizen with the information indicated in paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article 17🔗

1. A patient, and in the case of his/her consent or being a minor under 7 – the patient's relative and legal representative, shall have the right to:

a) to review medical records and request that corrections be made to the information existing about the patient; both the information existing before the correction and the new information provided by the patient, his/her relative or legal representative shall be kept in the medical records;

b) to request a copy of any part of the medical records.

2. A request for review of medical records, as well as for obtaining a copy thereof, shall be submitted to the medical institution in writing.

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2015 No. 3379 – website, 31.03.2015.

Article 18🔗

1. The patient has the right to receive complete, objective, timely and understandable information from the medical service provider:

a) about the existing resources of medical services and the types of their receipt, the fee and forms of reimbursement;

b) about the rights and obligations of the patient determined by the legislation of Georgia and the internal regulations of the medical institution;

c) about the intended preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation services, their accompanying risks and possible effectiveness;

d) about the results of medical examinations;

e) about other alternative options of the intended medical service, their accompanying risks and possible effectiveness;

f) about the expected consequences of a declared refusal of the intended medical service;

g) about the diagnosis and the expected prognosis, as well as the course of treatment;

h) about the identity and professional experience of the medical service provider.

2. Information about the patient's health condition may be withheld from the patient, or the volume of this information may be limited, if there is a reasoned assumption that receipt of complete information will cause serious harm to the patient's health. Complete information about his/her health condition shall be provided to the patient only if he/she insistently requests it.

3. The decision not to provide information or to limit its volume shall be confirmed by the Medical Ethics Commission, and in the absence of the latter in the medical institution – by another doctor. A reasoned decision on non-provision of information or limitation of its volume shall be recorded in the patient's medical documentation.

4. If the patient is a minor under 7 or does not have the ability to make a conscious decision, the medical service provider shall provide the information provided for by paragraph 1 of this article to the patient's relative or legal representative.

Law of Georgia No. 3379 of 20 March 2015 – website, 31.03.2015.

Article 19🔗

Information shall be provided to the patient, his/her relative or legal representative taking into account their ability to perceive it. When providing explanations, special terms shall be used to a minimum extent.

Article 20🔗

The patient has the right to refuse to receive the information provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 18, except in cases where non-provision of the information may cause serious harm to the health and/or life of the patient and/or a third person.

Article 21🔗

A capable patient has the right to decide whether anyone should receive information about his/her health condition. When making a positive decision, he/she shall also name the person to whom this information is to be provided. The decision and the identity of the person shall be recorded in the medical documentation.

Article 22🔗

1. An indispensable condition for the provision of medical services is the receipt of the informed consent of the patient, and, in the case of the patient being a minor under 7 (young child) or being unable to take a conscious decision, of the patient's relative or legal representative. The receipt of informed consent precedes the provision of medical services.

2. Written informed consent is required for the provision of the following medical services:

a) any surgical operation, except minor surgical manipulations;

b) abortion;

c) surgical contraception – sterilisation;

d) catheterisation of main blood vessels;

e) haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis;

f) extracorporeal fertilisation;

[ f¹) transplantation of a human organ, use of human tissue or cell; (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

g) genetic testing;

h) gene therapy;

i) radiation therapy;

j) chemotherapy of malignant tumours;

j¹) transfusion of human blood or its component;

k) in all other cases, if the provider of medical services considers written informed consent necessary.

3. The receipt of written informed consent is required when providing medical services to a patient who is a minor under 7 (young child) or lacks the ability to take a conscious decision.

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2015 No. 3379 – website, 31.03.2015.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2022 No. 2390 – website, 27.12.2022.

Law of Georgia of 1 November 2023 No. 3614 – website, 22.11.2023.

Law of Georgia of 13 December 2024 No. 144 – website, 29.12.2024.

Law of Georgia of 13 December 2024 No. 122 – website, 30.12.2024.

Article 23🔗

1. A patient who is capable and able to take a conscious decision has the right, at any stage of treatment, to refuse medical services, as well as to discontinue medical services already commenced. The patient must be exhaustively informed about the expected consequences of refusing or discontinuing medical services.

2. It is prohibited to provide medical services against the will of a patient who is capable and able to take a conscious decision, except in cases established by the legislation of Georgia.

Article 24🔗

1. A citizen of Georgia has the right to express in advance in writing his/her will (consent or refusal) regarding the performance of resuscitation, life-sustaining or palliative treatment for him/her and/or the provision of palliative care or hospice care to him/her, in the event that he/she is found in an unconscious state or loses the ability to make an informed decision, if the said circumstance is caused by:

a) the terminal stage of an incurable disease;

b) a disease that will inevitably cause a severe form of disability.

2. A citizen of Georgia has the right to designate in advance a person who, in the presence of the circumstances provided for by paragraph 1 of this article, will make a decision on the provision of the medical services necessary for him/her.

Law of Georgia of 8 May 2007 No. 4722 – LHG I, No. 18, 22.05.2007, Art. 152

Law of Georgia of 19 February 2019 No. 4278 – website, 25.02.2019

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 860 – website, 03.07.2025

Article 25🔗

1. If the decision of a relative or legal representative of a minor under 7 or of a patient lacking the ability to make an informed decision contradicts the patient's health interests, the medical service provider has the right to appeal this decision to a court.

2. If a minor under 7 or a patient lacking the ability to make an informed decision needs the provision of emergency medical services, without which his/her death or a significant deterioration of his/her health condition is inevitable, but the patient's relative or legal representative cannot be found, the medical service provider makes the decision taking into account the patient's health interests.

3. If a minor under 7 or a patient lacking the ability to make an informed decision needs the provision of emergency medical services, without which his/her death is inevitable, but the patient's relative or legal representative is against the provision of medical services, the medical service provider makes the decision taking into account the patient's health interests.

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2015 No. 3379 – website, 31.03.2015

Article 26🔗

1. The patient's informed consent is necessary for using him/her as an object of teaching. Informed consent precedes the use of the patient as an object of teaching.

2. The issues of using recipients of support and patients who are minors under 7 as objects of teaching are regulated by the Law of Georgia on Health Care.

3. The patient's consent is not necessary in cases where the following is used for teaching purposes:

a) information contained in the patient's medical documentation that does not allow the identification of the patient;

b) material obtained in the course of treatment and diagnosis (urine, blood, other tissues), which ensures the anonymity of the patient.

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2015 No. 3379 – website, 31.03.2015

Article 26¹🔗

Issues related to the offer to a patient with tuberculosis to undergo a mandatory tuberculosis examination and to his/her consent thereto shall be regulated by the Law of Georgia on Tuberculosis Control.

Law of Georgia of 11 December 2015 No. 4634 – website, 23.12.2015.

Article 27🔗

A provider of medical services shall be obliged to protect the confidentiality of the information about the patient in his/her possession both during the patient's life and after his/her death.

Article 28🔗

1. Disclosure of confidential information by a provider of medical services shall be permissible if:

a) the patient's consent has been obtained;

b) non-disclosure of the information endangers the life and/or health of a third person (whose identity is known);

c) when using information about the patient for educational or scientific purposes, the data are presented in such a way that identification of the person is impossible;

c¹) the information concerns a possible fact of violence against women and/or domestic violence and there is a risk of repeated violence. This information shall be provided only to the relevant State body in order to protect the rights and interests of the patient;

d) this is provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

2. The patient's consent to the disclosure by a provider of medical services of confidential information related to the patient's state of health to other persons participating in the provision of medical services may be presumed.

Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2691 – website, 31.10.2014.

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 775 – website, 25.05.2017.

Article 29🔗

Interference by a provider of medical services in the family and private life of a patient shall be prohibited, except in cases where:

a) the interference is necessary for the diagnosis of the patient's disease, his/her treatment and care. In such cases, the patient's consent shall be a mandatory condition;

b) the health and/or life of the patient's family members is endangered;

c) violence against women and/or domestic violence is being committed against the patient and/or his/her family member and there is a risk of repeated violence, if the interference is necessary to protect the rights and interests of the patient.

Law of Georgia of 17 October 2014 No. 2691 – website, 31.10.2014.

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 775 – website, 25.05.2017.

Article 30🔗

During the provision of medical services, only the attendance of persons directly participating therein shall be permissible, except in cases where the patient consents to or requests the attendance of other persons.

Article 31🔗

Discrimination against a person on the grounds of genetic inheritance shall be prohibited.

Article 32🔗

Testing to detect a disease-causing gene or to determine genetic predisposition to a disease shall be permissible only if its purpose is:

a) protection of the patient's health;

b) scientific research related to the protection of health.

Article 33🔗

Intervention intended for the modification of the human gene shall be permissible only for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment or prevention and if it does not entail alteration of the genome of the patient's offspring.

Article 34🔗

The use of artificial conception methods for the purpose of sex selection shall be prohibited, except in cases where it is necessary to prevent a sex-linked hereditary disease.

Article 36🔗

1. A woman in labour shall have the right to make a decision on the provision of medical services to her and to the foetus, except for the cases provided for by paragraph 2 of this article.

2. A woman in labour shall not have the right to refuse such medical services as ensure the birth of a live foetus and that carry a minimal risk to the health and life of the woman in labour.

Article 37🔗

A woman in labour shall have the right to have her spouse or another person desired by her at her side during childbirth.

Article 38🔗

A woman in the postpartum period shall have the right to have the newborn at her side, unless the provider of medical services decides, in connection with the child's state of health, to transfer it elsewhere, and also to feed the newborn at her own discretion.

Article 39🔗

Access to medical services for a minor shall be ensured through state medical programmes.

Article 40🔗

1. A parent or a legal representative shall have the right to receive from the attending physician complete, objective, timely and comprehensible information on the state of health of the minor, including the information provided for by paragraph 1 of Article 18 of this Law.

2. The information provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall not be given to a parent or a legal representative if the following are against the provision of the information:

a) a minor patient who, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, is considered capable;

b) a minor patient aged 14 to 18 who, in the opinion of the medical service provider, correctly assesses his/her own state of health and who has applied to a physician for the treatment of a sexually transmitted disease or drug addiction, for receiving counselling on non-surgical methods of contraception, or for the artificial termination of pregnancy;

c) a minor patient aged 14 to 18 who, in the opinion of the medical service provider, correctly assesses his/her own state of health and who has applied to a physician for the diagnosis of HIV infection/AIDS, except where a positive result is revealed during the diagnosis of HIV infection/AIDS. In this case, the information provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be given to the parent or legal representative of a minor patient aged 14 to 18 only if there is the informed consent of the patient to the provision of this information and/or the patient refuses to undergo the relevant treatment and the patient, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, is not considered capable.

3. The procedure for the provision of information provided for by subparagraph „c“ of paragraph 2 of this Article shall be determined by the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No. 3609 of 28 May 2015 – website, 04.06.2015

Law of Georgia No. 3066 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.07.2018

Article 41🔗

1. A minor patient aged 14 to 18 who, in the opinion of the medical service provider, correctly assesses his/her own health condition, has the right to give informed consent to the provision of medical services, if he/she applied to the medical service provider for the purpose provided for by subparagraph "b" or "c" of paragraph 2 of Article 40 of this Law.

2. A minor patient under 16 years of age shall be provided with medical services only with the consent of a parent or legal representative, except for the cases provided for by subparagraphs "b" and "c" of paragraph 2 of Article 40 of this Law; in addition, when making a decision on the provision of medical services, the participation of the patient is necessary, taking into account his/her age and mental development.

3. A minor patient over 16 years of age who, in the opinion of the medical service provider, correctly assesses his/her own health condition, has the right to give informed consent to or refuse the provision of medical services. His/her relative or legal representative shall be notified of this decision of the patient.

Law of Georgia No. 3609 of 28 May 2015 – website, 04.06.2015.

Article 42🔗

1. The use of a minor patient under 16 years of age as a subject of instruction shall be permitted only with the informed consent of his/her parent or legal representative. When making the decision, the participation of the patient is also necessary, taking into account his/her age and mental development.

2. The use of a minor patient over 16 years of age as a subject of instruction shall be permitted only with his/her informed consent. His/her parent or legal representative shall be notified of the patient's decision.

Article 43🔗

A minor patient has the right to receive information about his/her own health condition and treatment. The information provided shall correspond to his/her age and level of mental development.

Article 44🔗

A military serviceman, a conscript and a person hired under contract in military service have the right to request and undergo an independent medical examination for the determination of their health condition.

Article 45🔗

1. Access to medical services for a person placed in a penitentiary institution is ensured through state medical programmes.

2. A person has the right, immediately upon placement in a penitentiary institution, to request a proper medical examination, an independent medical examination, and, where necessary, the provision of medical services.

Law of Georgia No 2703-LHG I of 9 March 2010, No 12, 24.03.2010, Art. 45

Law of Georgia No. 3551 of 1 May 2015 – website, 18.05.2015.

Article 46🔗

A person placed in a penitentiary institution shall enjoy all the rights provided for by this Law.

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2010 No. 2703-LHG I, No. 12, 24.03.2010, Art. 45

Law of Georgia of 1 May 2015 No. 3551 – website, 18.05.2015

Article 47🔗

The director of a penitentiary institution may restrict the right of a person placed in this institution to choose a provider of medical services. This decision may be appealed to a court.

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2010 No. 2703-LHG I, No. 12, 24.03.2010, Art. 45

Law of Georgia of 1 May 2015 No. 3551 – website, 18.05.2015

Law of Georgia of 1 June 2017 No. 956 – website, 20.06.2017

Article 48🔗

This Law shall enter into force upon publication.

President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze

Tbilisi,

5 May 2000.

No. 283–IIs