Patients' informed consent to medical services in Georgia.

Informed consent requires that a patient understands the purpose, benefits and potential risks of a medical or surgical intervention and then agrees to it. It is important not only ethically and legally but for the effectiveness of care. Studies show that, in some cases, patients have no real information on the medical service to be provided so their informed consent is just a formality.

Rabies control and prevention in Georgia: current status and perspectives.

The incidence of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is very high in Georgia, at 876/100,000 persons in 2006. Data from the National Centre for Disease Control on rabies surveillance for 2004, 2005 and 2006 was analysed, with the objective of improving postexposure policy and practice, as well as identifying priorities for national surveillance and control. For the base period 1986-1995, a total of 40 rabies cases in humans were reported in Georgia.