“This time, with a PAD, I did not receive any treatments that I did not want. They were very respectful. I really felt like the hospital took better care of me because I had my PAD. In fact, I think it’s the best care that I’ve ever received.” Read More PAD Stories...

About PADs

  • A psychiatric advance directive (PAD) is a legal document that documents a person’s preferences for future mental health treatment, and allows appointment of a health proxy to interpret those preferences during a crisis.
  • PADs may be drafted when a person is well enough to consider preferences for future mental health treatment.
  • PADs are used when a person becomes unable to make decisions during a mental health crisis.

Georgia Mental Health Resources

Georgia Advance Directives for Health Care statute link – click to see the statute as it appears in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A).
Note: Once you follow the link, follow Title 31 > Chapter 32 “Advance Directives for Health Care” to view the legislation. 

Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care ActPDF

Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care form – provided by the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services

Although Georgia does not currently have a specific statute for a psychiatric advance directive, you can learn more about general advance directives for health care in Georgia at the Caring Connections website.

If you know of any relevant current legislation, pending legislation, or general issues of interest relating to psychiatric advance directives in your state, click here to contact us.