Plain English Breakdown
The official source material does not provide details on the specific conditions under which restraints are allowed or how long they can be used.
Rules About Restraints in Hospitals
This bill stops hospitals from using restraints like straps, drugs to control behavior, or keeping patients alone in rooms without a good reason.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits hospitals and medical facilities from using mechanical, chemical, or physical restraints on minors and vulnerable adult patients unless necessary.
- Requires that less intrusive methods be tried before using any type of restraint.
- Defines what 'chemical restraint', 'mechanical restraint', 'physical restraint', and 'seclusion' mean in the context of patient care.
Who It Names or Affects
- Hospitals and medical facilities
- Minors and vulnerable adult patients
Terms To Know
- Chemical restraint
- A drug or medication used to control behavior or restrict movement, but not for treating a patient's medical condition.
- Mechanical restraint
- Using devices like straps that limit a person’s ability to move freely.
- Physical restraint
- Restricting someone's movement by holding them or using other methods, not involving drugs or mechanical devices.
- Seclusion
- Placing a patient alone in a room where they cannot leave on their own.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not change rights and duties that existed before it was approved.
- It only applies to hospitals and medical facilities, not other types of care settings.