Restraints and Isolation

Restraints and Isolation. (a) Persons have a right to be free from chemical and physical restraint and isolation, except for emergency situations in which a mental health professional or attending physician contemporaneously documents by written order in the patient’s medical records that the patient presents an imminent threat of substantial harm to himself or others and less restrictive means are not feasible. (b) Emergency use of restraints or isolation shall be for no more than two hours, after which time patients may be physically restrained or placed in isolation only on an attending physician’s written order which explains the rationale for such action. The written order may be entered only after the attending physician has personally seen the patient concerned and evaluated whatever episode or situation is said to call for restraint or isolation. Such written order shall be effective for not more than 24 hours. (c) While in restraint or isolation the patient must be seen at least every 15 minutes by qualified ward personnel who will chart the patient’s physical condition and indicate if it is compromised and also chart the patient’s psychiatric condition. The patient must have bathroom privileges at least every hour and must be bathed at least every 24 hours, or before, as needed. Source: PL 8-38, § 8.