O.C.G.A.

O.C.G.A. § 10-1-422 (2019)

Designation required for use of term “Doctor” or “Dr.”; exceptions

✓ O.C.G.A. — 2019 edition (Public.Resource.Org Release 73)
Code text and O.C.G.A. statutory annotations on this page reflect the 2019 Official Code of Georgia Annotated (Public.Resource.Org Release 73, 2019-08-21; public domain per Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). The Syfert case-law annotations in Notes of Decisions, below, are current.
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(a)(1) Each individual who uses the term “Doctor” or “Dr.” in con325

junction with his name in any letter, business card, advertisement, sign, public listing, display, or circular of any nature shall designate: (A) The degree to which he is entitled by reason of his diploma of graduation from a school or other entity, professional or otherwise; (B) The degree as honorary when an honorary acknowledgment has been made; (C) “No degree” if he is not entitled to any such recognition. (2) The designation required by this subsection shall not be necessary: (A) If the term is a part of the person’s legal name; (B) In the case of the use in a corporate charter of the name of a professional association or professional corporation organized in this state as provided by law. (b) Any person willfully violating, with intent to defraud, subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

History

Ga. L. 1978, p. 2046, § 1; Ga. L. 1979, p. 628, § 1.

Annotations

Cross references. Unauthorized use of terms “M.D.,”

“Doctor,” “Doctor of Osteopathy,” etc., §§ 43-34-22, 43-34-40.

RESEARCH REFERENCES ALR. Practice of medicine, dentistry, or law through radio broadcasting stations,

newspapers, or magazines, 114 A.L.R. 1506.