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Health & Fitness

The Use of Restraints in Medical Facilities: A Debated Topic

Restraints are often controversial topics when used in medical conversation. The general rule for nurses and medical staff is to never use them for their own convenience, but to use them if a patient is at risk for a danger such as a history of falls, physical limitations, continued removal of needed breathing tubes or life support and other known histories in which a patient can cause harm to himself or others. A restraint can cause further complications if not monitored properly, but they can also put a patient at a high risk for serious injuries and even death if they are not used in needed situations. If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to what you may feel was an improper use of a restraint, contact a personal injury attorney to receive reliable advice regarding your legal concerns.

When medical staff makes the decision to use restraints, care plans should be thorough with all of the patient’s history and current medical conditions in mind. Any patient who is given a restraint should continuously be monitored closely and with observation. When restraints are used for a long period of time, they can increase the risk for bed sores and other serious medical conditions. Patients and their families should also be told why a restraint is in a patient’s best interest.

Medical facilities can also be held liable if they failed to use a restraint when it was needed to prevent a patient from encountering a dangerous accident. For example, if a restraint was not used when a patient was under the influence of a prescription drug that decreased physical and mental functions which was administered by the staff, and that patient fell from a bed or chair, thus causing serious injuries, a facility will be held liable. To learn if you or your loved ones fall could have been prevented, call an Illinois personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

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The personal injury attorneys at Malman Law are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or a loved one end up hurt due to a fall or other accident, do not hesitate to call our office today to learn about your legal rights. The sooner an investigation is started, the more evidence for damages can be collected. Malman Law has settled millions of dollars in nursing abuse and neglect cases, medical malpractice, fall cases and medical errors. We also have a team of attorneys who concentrate in vehicle accidents, cell phone accidents, truck accidents, and workers’ compensation. Malman Law works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that unless you get paid, we will never collect any fees. 

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