Medical restraint

Overview
Medical restraints are a subset of general physical restraint used for medical purposes. Unlike some other forms of restraint, medical restraints are designed to restrain their wearer without causing pain.

Medical restraints are generally used to prevent people with severe physical or mental disorders from harming themselves or others.

Forms of medical restraint include four-point restraints, fabric body holders and straitjackets, as well as less-confining devices such as safety vests, jackets, lap and wheel chair belts.

Although medical restraints, used properly, can help prevent injury, they can also be dangerous. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimated in 1992 that at least 100 deaths occur annually in the U.S. from their improper use in nursing homes, hospitals and private homes. Most of the deaths are due to strangulation. The agency has also received reports of broken bones, burns and other injuries related to improper use of restraints.

Because of the potential for abuse, the use of medical restraints is regulated in many jurisdictions.

Types of medical restraints

 * A vest that can be placed on a patient like any other vest garment. It has a long strap at each end that can be tied behind a chair in order to prevent the patient from getting out of the chair, or to the sides of a bed to keep the patient in bed.


 * Limb restraints are used to prevent activity in various limbs. They are wrapped around the wrists or ankles, and tied to the side of a bed, to prevent the patient from using one's arms, legs, hands, or feet, and to prevent said patient from harming oneself or others.

Laws pertaining to medical restraints
Current United States' law requires that medical restraints may only be used when ordered by a physician. Such a physician's order, which is subject to renewal upon expiration if necessary, is valid only for a maximum of 24 hours.

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic776.htm

Other uses
Medical restraints have been fetishised by some people, and are used in some BDSM activities.