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O.C.G.A. § 43-9-12.1 — Reasonable care and skill; referrals | Georgia Code
O.C.G.A. § 43-9-12.1 (2018) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Scholar Amendments

TITLE 43 PROFESSIONS AND BUSINESSES

Section 9. Chiropractors, 43-9-1 through 43-9-20.

ARTICLE 4 REGULATION OF MARTIAL ARTS AND WRESTLING

43-9-12.1. Reasonable care and skill; referrals.

The doctor of chiropractic must bring to the exercise of that person's profession a reasonable degree of care and skill, which shall include the determination of the need for chiropractic care, as defined in paragraph (2) of Code Section 43-9-1, and shall render treatment, referral to the appropriate health care provider, or both treatment and referral commensurate with that chiropractor's findings. Any failure to refer to the appropriate health care provider may subject the doctor of chiropractic to the provisions of Code Section 43-9-12. Nothing in this Code section shall be deemed to expand or limit the chiropractic scope of practice.

(Code 1981, §43-9-12.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 910, § 1.)

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Referral to a medical group was outside the scope of chiropractic practice.

- Chiropractor's referral of a patient to a medical group technician for procedures outside the scope of chiropractic practice, without prior approval by or consultation with a medical doctor, constituted a medical decision outside the scope of chiropractic practice. Colvard v. Mosley, 270 Ga. App. 106, 605 S.E.2d 838 (2004).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Referral of patients for X-rays authorized.

- Chiropractor can refer a patient for X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging if the referral is needed to determine appropriate chiropractic care or for treatment for or evaluation of conditions which are outside the scope of practice of the chiropractor; this opinion supersedes 1993 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 93-11. 2006 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U2006-1.

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This Georgia Code resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, a personal injury and workers' compensation attorney admitted in Georgia (State Bar of Georgia No. 881027, since 2006) and Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.