Restraint in hospital settings
Introduction Restraint refers to involuntary mobility restrictions imposed on hospitalized patients to facilitate treatment compliance or to prevent self-inflicted harm or harm to care providers or fellow inpatients. Except for rare exceptions, restraint is practiced almost exclusively for hospitalized psychiatric hospitals. Indeed, it may be the only feasible option for instituting treatment in patients such cases. (Eren, et al. 2014) Due to ethical concerns and the potential repercussions for patient well being and autonomy, it is desirable to evaluate the different modalities of restraint; the objective being the achievement of best possible treatment outcomes with the least restrictive practices. Continue reading...