05 LC 33
0522
Senate
Bill 29
By: Senators Cagle of the 49th, Hudgens of the 47th and Thomas of the 54th
By: Senators Cagle of the 49th, Hudgens of the 47th and Thomas of the 54th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so
as to require physicians to provide certain information to patients prior to
initiating prostate cancer treatment; to provide requirements for a written
summary of medically efficacious and viable treatment options for prostate
cancer; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Title
31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, is amended by
adding at the end thereof a new Chapter 46 to read as follows:
"CHAPTER
46
31_46_1.
(a)
Prior to initiating prostate cancer treatment, a physician shall:
(1)
Orally inform the patient or the patient´s legal representative of the
medically efficacious and viable treatment options for prostate cancer,
including, but not limited to, brachytherapy, chemotherapy, external beam
radiation, hormonal treatments, surgery, and watchful waiting. The physician
shall describe and quantify the relative advantages, disadvantages, and risks
associated with such options in a manner that permits each patient to make a
prudent decision in selecting a mode of therapy; and
(2)
Provide the patient with a written summary of such medically efficacious and
viable treatment options for prostate cancer in accordance with Code Section
31_46_2.
(b)
A physician shall indicate compliance with this Code section in the
patient´s medical record, including the date and time the patient was so
informed.
31_46_2.
(a)
The Composite State Board of Medical Examiners, in consultation with
organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Prostate Cancer
Foundation, shall develop a written summary of medically efficacious and viable
treatment options for prostate cancer. The summary shall be written in such a
manner that is understandable to the lay person. The summary shall describe and
quantify the relative advantages, disadvantages, and risks of the medically
efficacious and viable treatment options for prostate cancer, including, but not
limited to, brachytherapy, chemotherapy, external beam radiation, hormonal
treatments, surgery, and watchful waiting. The summary shall also include
telephone numbers, toll_free numbers, and website addresses for a full range of
organizations dedicated to cancer patient education that are determined by the
Composite State Board of Medical Examiners to provide useful information for
patients regarding prostate cancer treatment options. The Composite State Board
of Medical Examiners shall revise and update the summary as necessary and
appropriate.
(b)
The Composite State Board of Medical Examiners shall print and make available to
all licensed physicians sufficient copies of the written summary for
distribution to patients diagnosed with prostate cancer.
31_46_3.
Nothing
in this chapter shall be construed to impair any other provisions of law
regarding informed
consent."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.