Regulations › Legal Framework
- Type
- Georgian Law
- Reference
- Parliamentary Law
- Year
- 2000 (latest revision 2023)
- Issuing authority
- Parliament of Georgia
- Scope
- All healthcare facilities and providers in Georgia; all patients receiving medical care
- Official source
- matsne.gov.ge
This page provides an English-language summary and analysis of the Georgian Law on Patients Rights. The official binding text is in Georgian and is available on the Legislative Herald (Matsne). PHIG provides this translation for informational purposes to support international accreditation and research.
The Law on Patients Rights is the foundational legislation protecting individuals receiving healthcare in Georgia. It establishes the legal basis for patient autonomy, informed consent, medical confidentiality and access to healthcare — aligning Georgian law with international human rights standards and European healthcare norms.
Key rights established by the law
Right to receive healthcareEvery person in Georgia has the right to receive appropriate, timely and evidence-based medical care without discrimination based on race, sex, age, nationality, religion, social status, political opinion, disability or any other ground.
Right to informationPatients have the right to receive complete, accurate and understandable information about their health status, diagnosis, proposed treatment, alternatives, risks and expected outcomes — in a language they understand. Healthcare providers must ensure this information is provided proactively, not only upon request.
Informed consentNo medical intervention may be performed without the free, voluntary and informed consent of the patient. Consent must be given before the intervention. For minors and legally incapacitated persons, consent is given by a legal representative. Emergency life-saving treatment may be administered without consent when the patient is unable to consent and delay would cause irreversible harm.
Right to refuse treatmentA patient with full legal capacity has the right to refuse any medical treatment or intervention, including life-sustaining treatment. The refusal must be documented in writing, signed by the patient and witnessed. The healthcare provider must document that the patient was fully informed of the consequences.
Medical confidentialityAll information about a patient’s health status, diagnosis, treatment and personal circumstances constitutes medical secrecy and must not be disclosed to third parties without the patient’s explicit written consent. Exceptions include: mandatory disease notification to public health authorities; court orders; immediate threat to third-party life. Healthcare workers are bound by confidentiality even after the patient’s death.
Right to medical recordsPatients have the right to access their complete medical records, request copies and have errors corrected. Records must be retained by healthcare facilities for defined periods. Patients may designate authorised representatives to access records on their behalf.
Dignity and non-discriminationPatients have the right to respectful, dignified treatment free from humiliation, psychological pressure or physical abuse. Healthcare providers must accommodate cultural, religious and linguistic needs to the extent practicable.
Right to complainPatients have the right to file complaints with the healthcare facility’s internal quality department, with the State Medical Regulation Agency (RAMA), with courts and with the Public Defender (Ombudsman). The law prohibits retaliation against patients who file complaints.
Healthcare provider obligations
The law imposes corresponding obligations on all healthcare providers operating in Georgia — hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, pharmacies and individual practitioners. Key obligations include: maintaining complete and accurate medical records; establishing internal complaint procedures; training staff in patients’ rights; displaying patients’ rights information prominently; responding to complaints within defined timeframes; and cooperating with regulatory inspections by RAMA.
Relevance to accreditation
The Law on Patients Rights is directly referenced in ASF and international accreditation standards. Facilities seeking accreditation must demonstrate: a functional informed consent process with documented forms; a complaints management system; patient rights information available in Georgian and, where applicable, other languages; staff training records on patients’ rights; and evidence that patient privacy and confidentiality are protected in facility design and operations.
In plain language
The Law on Patients’ Rights sets out what every person can expect when receiving medical care in Georgia: to be informed, to consent or refuse, to have their data kept confidential, to be treated with dignity and to complain when something goes wrong.
What it means in practice
| Who | What changes |
|---|
| Patients | Receive clear information about diagnosis and options; give or withhold consent; access their own records; complain. |
| Clinicians and providers | Obtain informed consent, respect confidentiality, document decisions and communicate understandably. |
| Facility managers | Put in place consent procedures, confidentiality safeguards and a working complaints mechanism. |
International frame of reference
Questions and answers
Can a patient refuse treatment?
Yes. The law recognises the right of a competent adult to refuse medical intervention after being informed of the consequences.
How is this linked to accreditation?
Accreditation standards assess whether patient rights — consent, confidentiality, complaints — work in practice. See Accreditation in Georgia.
