Georgia Code
Article 1 - Regulation of Hospitals and Related Institutions
§ 31-7-16. Determination or Pronouncement of Death of Patient Who Died in Facility Classified as Nursing Home

When a patient dies in any facility classified as a nursing home by the department and operating under a permit issued by the department, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, or a registered professional nurse licensed in this state and employed by such nursing home at the time of apparent death of such person, in the absence of a physician, may make the determination and pronouncement of the death of said patient; provided, however, that when it appears that a patient died from other than natural causes, only a physician may make the determination or pronouncement of death. Such determination or pronouncement shall be made in writing on a form approved by the department.
History. Code 1981, § 31-7-16 , enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 1243, § 1; Ga. L. 2009, p. 859, § 3/HB 509; Ga. L. 2017, p. 625, § 1/SB 96.
The 2017 amendment, effective July 1, 2017, in the first sentence, inserted “, a nurse practitioner,” near the beginning and deleted “that, when said patient is a registered organ donor, only a physician may make the determination or pronouncement of death; provided, further,” preceding “that when it” near the end.

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Structure Georgia Code

Georgia Code

Title 31 - Health

Chapter 7 - Regulation and Construction of Hospitals and Other Health Care Facilities

Article 1 - Regulation of Hospitals and Related Institutions

§ 31-7-1. Definitions

§ 31-7-2. Classification of Institutions

§ 31-7-2.1. Rules and Regulations; Availability of Reports of Cited Deficiencies; Disclosure of Survey Worksheets and Documents

§ 31-7-2.2. Determination That Patients or Residents in an Institution, Community Living Arrangement, or Treatment Program Are in Danger; Relocation of Patients or Residents; Suspension of Admissions

§ 31-7-3. Requirements for Permits to Operate Institutions

§ 31-7-3.1. Posting Sign by Hospital Operating Emergency Room Notifying Individuals of Legal Rights in Emergencies

§ 31-7-3.2. Notice of Cited Deficiency and Imposition of Sanction

§ 31-7-3.3. “Excluded Party” Defined; Liability; Notice; Dismissal; Other Procedural Factors

§ 31-7-3.4. Carrying of Liability Insurance or Establishment of Self-Insurance Trust as Condition Precedent to Obtaining or Maintaining Permit

§ 31-7-4. Denial or Revocation of Permits

§ 31-7-5. Exemptions From Permit Requirements; Application of This Chapter to Federally Operated Institutions

§ 31-7-6. Provision of Data for Research Purposes by Organizations Rendering Patient Care; Liability of Providers of Data; Use of Data; Confidentiality

§ 31-7-7. Refusal or Revocation by Public Hospital of Staff Privileges

§ 31-7-7.1. Denial of Staff Privileges Based Upon License, Board Certification, or Membership in Professional Association

§ 31-7-8. Reports of Disciplinary Actions Against Persons Authorized to Practice Professions Under Chapter 11, 34, or 35 of Title 43

§ 31-7-9. Reports by Physicians and Other Personnel of Nonaccidental Injuries to Patients; Immunity From Liability

§ 31-7-10. Certification and Approval of Hospitals Eligible to Render Service Under a Group Nonprofit Hospital Insurance Plan; Supervision of Such Hospitals; Withdrawal of Approval

§ 31-7-11. Written Summary of Hospital Service Charge Rates

§ 31-7-12. Personal Care Homes; Licensure and Registration; Inspection by Local Boards; Fees; Investigations; Waiver, Variance, or Exemption; Staffing, Training, and Financial Stability Requirements; Certified Medication Aides

§ 31-7-12.1. Unlicensed Personal Care Home; Civil Penalties; Negligence per Se for Certain Legal Claims; Declared Nuisance Dangerous to Public Health, Safety, and Welfare; Criminal Sanctions

§ 31-7-12.2. Regulation and Licensing of Assisted Living Communities; Legislative Intent; Definitions; Procedures; Requirements for Medication Aides

§ 31-7-12.3. Adoption of Rules and Regulations to Implement Code Sections 31-7-12 and 31-7-12.2

§ 31-7-12.4. Certificate for Operation of Memory Care Center Required; Staffing and Training Requirements; Other Requirements; Regulation

§ 31-7-12.5. Notification and Other Requirements for Covid-19 Infections in Personal Care Homes

§ 31-7-12.6. Sars Cov-2 Testing for Residents and Staff in Long-Term Care Facilities

§ 31-7-12.7. Employment of Certified Medication Aides in Nursing Homes; Competency Review; Authorized Task; Review by Pharmacists; Ongoing Medication Training; Administration of Narcotics Prohibited

§ 31-7-12.8. Employer Sponsored Certified Nurse Aide Training and Competency Examination Programs

§ 31-7-13. Transfer of Property Upon Death of Patient

§ 31-7-14. Blood Supplies; Blood Donor Storage Programs

§ 31-7-15. Review of Professional Practices by a Peer Review Committee

§ 31-7-16. Determination or Pronouncement of Death of Patient Who Died in Facility Classified as Nursing Home

§ 31-7-17. Licensure and Regulation of Hospitals and Related Institutions Transferred to Department of Community Health

§ 31-7-18. Vaccinations for Influenza and Pneumococcal Disease for Certain Discharged Patients;vaccinations or Other Measures for Health Care Workers and Other Employees in Hospitals; Immunity From Liability; Standing Orders

§ 31-7-19. Nursing Homes to Annually Offer Influenza Vaccinations to Health Care Workers and Other Employees; Immunity From Liability

§ 31-7-20. Medical Facilities to Make Good Faith Application to Southern Regional Tricare Managed Care Support Coordinator for Certification in the Tricare Program

§ 31-7-21. Provision of Influenza Education Information to Assisted Living Community Residents

§ 31-7-22. Required Publication by Hospital of Certain Documentation on Website; Updating; Penalty for Noncompliance; Enforcement; Individual Criminal Penalty

§ 31-7-23. Surgical Smoke