Restraint Injuries Information

Restraint Injuries Information

It is unfortunate that the mental state of some people requires them to be restrained to protect their safety or the safety of others. Although most people who work in the medical or health care industries understand how to properly and safely restrain those who present a danger to themselves or others, there are some who apply an inappropriate and lethal amount of force to their patients.

There are many places where innocent people can suffer injuries due to improper restraints. Mental health institutions, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and jails often need to restrain people for a variety of reasons. Although the nature, condition, and duration of the restraining depend on the individual situation, every attempt to restrain someone must be done with respect and consideration of their personal safety and civil rights.

If you or someone you know suffered grievous injury because of physical restraints you may have the right to take legal action against those caused the injury. Let a compassionate, dedicated, and experienced lawyer help guide you through these trying and difficult times to final justice. Contact one today.

Suffocation from Restraints

Safety restraints have come a long way from the first primitive straightjackets and crude metal shackles of a century ago. Modern restraints normally take into account the safety and comfort of the patient, and advancements into what experts call “chemical restraints” such as powerful sedatives allow health and safety personnel to reduce the likelihood of injury to the patient or those in the vicinity.

Unfortunately there are thousands of reports of patients suffocating due to restraints. In 2004, an elderly woman in Pennsylvania allegedly suffocated to death because of the restraints her nursing home used to control her, and her case is one of thousands of instances since 1999 that led the government to mandate that hospitals and care facilities use less restrictive alternatives before restricting physical movement.

If your loved one suffocated because of the restraints allegedly used to “help” them, you may be entitled to take legal action. Losing a loved one is obviously a trying and difficult time, but take solace in the fact that there are dedicated and experienced lawyers who will fight for you and your rights. Contact one today.

Suffocation from Restraining

here are many instances where those in health or safety professions must restrain people to prevent them from causing harm to themselves or others. In a perfect world this application of force would always be humane and safe, but there are always different interpretations of what is the appropriate amount of force needed to restrain a person. Unfortunately many of the holds and grips used to prevent a patient from struggling often restrict oxygen, and frequently these patients have few ways to alert their restrainer that they cannot breathe.

Allegations of patient abuse in nursing homes and hospitals of stems from the brute application of force to people with severe mental handicaps such as autism or physical impairments such as epilepsy. These conditions cause the patient to act in potentially dangerous ways or even to fight off the advances of those seeking to help or restrain them. Suffocation is common in these cases, as the more a patient resists the more force must be used to restrain them, and for those who have no control over their movements or cannot express their discomfort this situation can quickly deteriorate into suffocation.

The willful application of force should be the last resort in any serious situation, and those who must be trained apply it safely and should do so only when necessary. Suffocation can cause serious physical and mental health problems and even death in some cases. If you or someone you loved endured suffocation while being physically restrained by another you may have the right to seek compensation for your pain and suffering. Let an experienced, dedicated, and compassionate lawyer guide you through this difficult period and help you find justice that you deserve.

Psychiatric Ward Restraint Death

There are many regulations that govern the application of restraints to people with psychiatric disorders. Doctors must provide authorization for psychiatric to use restraints on their patients, and only after it is established that the patient is a danger to themselves or others and less restrictive measures are ineffective.

Unfortunately there are thousands of occasions of patients restrained in psychiatric wards die because of their restraints. Many patients suffocate because their disability prevents them from alerting their doctors to their situation, or neglectful and abusive health care workers take advantage of their patients.

If neglect or abuse in a psychiatric ward robbed you of someone you love you have a right to take action and seek justice. Let our dedicated, experienced, and compassionate lawyers guide you through this difficult time and fight for the compensation you may deserve. Contact us today.

Improper Restraints

It takes years of training and experience to learn the safe and proper ways to use restraints to prevent people from hurting others or even themselves. Not only does it take a specialized understanding of various mental and physical conditions such as epilepsy and autism, but it also requires detailed studies of anatomy to learn what the most effective spots on the body to apply mechanical or chemical restraints.

Unfortunately many people who apply restraints in order to help people often end up causing more harm than good. Furthermore there are occasions where restraints are used as punishment, applied without compelling reason, and cause the victim undue pain and suffering. In some extreme cases these restraints lead to permanent injury or even death.

No person should be subject to improper restraints that cause them to endure physical, mental, or emotional pain. If you or someone you love has suffered because of improper restraints you need to contact an attorney immediately. Your situation and circumstances may entitle you to a settlement. Let our compassionate and dedicated attorneys help you work towards justice today.

Improper Restraining

There are certain occasions where those in the safety or health fields need to restrain a person to prevent them from harming themselves or others. Unfortunately the force and duration needed to restrain a struggling person varies from subject to subject, and often many people with severe ailments such as epilepsy or autism cannot control their resistance or cannot alert their restrainer they are in pain or are suffering.

Improper restraints are not always an accident. Nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, even schools are all too often the sites of incidents where people are improperly restrained against their will for punishment, abuse, or other nefarious purpose. Severe injury often occurs when people without medical training attempt to restrain people without concern for their physical or mental conditions.

If you or someone you love suffered injury because they were improperly restrained for any reason you may be entitled to seek damages. Do not hesitate to contact our dedicated and experienced attorneys who are ready to stand up for you and fight for your rights.

Child Camp Restraint Death

In a trend that has become far too disturbing in the United States, six camp counselors were charged with felony murder, child cruelty and involuntary manslaughter when they restrained an asthmatic 13 year old boy and denied him his inhaler. The child was held face down on the ground for an hour and a half before he stopped breathing and died.

The counselors callously claimed that the boy frequently demanded his inhaler while being restrained, and assumed it was a tactic to reduce the restraint rather than a potential medical emergency. His pleas for help went unanswered as he suffocated under the weight of the restraints applied by two counselors holding his arms and waist to the ground.

Unfortunately cases such as this tragedy are only the beginning. No one should be denied access to lifesaving medicine on the grounds they are being “punished.” Make sure that the people who practice this extreme form of “tough love” are held accountable before the law. Our compassionate and dedicated lawyers are ready to help you through this trying and difficult time. Contact us today.

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