The Georgia Psychiatric Advance Directive

The Georgia Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) allows adults 18 years or older to make healthcare decisions in advance, including behavioral health treatment decisions. The PAD may be used to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you in the event that you are unable or unwilling to make them for yourself. The PAD also provides you the ability to make decisions now regarding your future behavioral health care if you feel there may ever be a time when you are unable to do so for yourself. These decisions may include medications or types of treatment you may prefer or others you may never wish to receive. Georgia law does permit health care providers to potentially override your wishes if you are involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital.