Physical restraint used for children and adolescents in mental health facilities requires particular ethical and legal consideration, it is often used as a reactive behavior management strategy for aggressive behaviors. We all realize that restraints limit the patient’s physical movement, and may cause some physical injuries if it is not used appropriately, but we can’t ignore that they could cause severe and long-term psychological consequences for children or adolescents who experienced restraints and seclusions (Nielson, 2021) ETHICAL AND LEGAL FOUNDATIONS OF PMHNP CARE.
Providers need to understand the consequences of physical restraint on a child’s physical and mental well-being. Children and adolescents are mentally immature, they may feel defended, and they will experience anger, fear, anxiety, and many other negative emotions. According to some patients’ retrospect reviews, being physically restrained is a severely traumatic experience, it caused physical injury as well as psychological damage. Also, reports suggested that the use of restraint within mental health facilities can damage the therapeutic relationship between patients and healthcare providers.
Legal Consideration to Restraints on Children/Adolescents
Due to the tension between the patient’s right to freedom and the healthcare provider’s duty, healthcare providers may face potential claims of improperly detaining patients, false imprisonment, or harming children when restraints are applied. The use of restraints is among the most controversial practices in mental health care, especially for children and adolescents. Children and adolescents are considered the most vulnerable population among mental health patients. Federal and state law shared a desire to provide minor patients with the greatest protections regarding the usage of restraints and seclusion. Providers are mandated to notify the parents and legal guardians of the use of restraints as soon as possible, they will supply a copy of the restraint policy and obtain a written acknowledgment of the policy from the parents. (Neiman, Pelkey, & Holloway, 2016).
References
Nielson, S., Bray, L., Carter, B., & Kiernan, J. (2021). Physical restraint of children and adolescents in mental health inpatient services: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Journal of child health care: for professionals working with children in the hospital and community, 25(3), 342–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367493520937152
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