Since we all have to deal with psych pts on a regular basis, seeing pts on a 5150 is fairly common and in itself warrants soft restraints. But what about someone who's on a voluntary hold and suddenly flips ? Can the restraints still be used and, more importantly, when ?
Here's a specific example: I left a pt @ a sending facility a few days ago, because he was very agitated, verbally abusive and borderline combative. The facility in question is a BHU and the pt needed to be transported Code 2 to a hospital for med clearance; AOS to find the pt in the above stated condition and refusing to cooperate with EMS personnel (ripped off the BP cuff & threw it @ my partner, to name a few). Urging the pt to calm down did not bear fruit, the facility personnel had to step in but to no avail. I informed the facility that they can either call the PD and let them restrain the pt or produce a 5150 so I can do it myself, but that I am not putting a combative pt, in my ambulance, without restraints. Tl; dr he had to stay, we cleared it w/ dispatch and left.
Followed the outlined above, had a discussion with a few coworkers who claimed that it was my right & duty to apply the restraints without a 5150 because 'safety comes 1st'. My question is, did I miss something in school and applying the restraints without a involuntary psych hold isn't considered a false imprisonment anymore, or my coworkers clearly want to get me in trouble for violating pt rights ?
Here's a specific example: I left a pt @ a sending facility a few days ago, because he was very agitated, verbally abusive and borderline combative. The facility in question is a BHU and the pt needed to be transported Code 2 to a hospital for med clearance; AOS to find the pt in the above stated condition and refusing to cooperate with EMS personnel (ripped off the BP cuff & threw it @ my partner, to name a few). Urging the pt to calm down did not bear fruit, the facility personnel had to step in but to no avail. I informed the facility that they can either call the PD and let them restrain the pt or produce a 5150 so I can do it myself, but that I am not putting a combative pt, in my ambulance, without restraints. Tl; dr he had to stay, we cleared it w/ dispatch and left.
Followed the outlined above, had a discussion with a few coworkers who claimed that it was my right & duty to apply the restraints without a 5150 because 'safety comes 1st'. My question is, did I miss something in school and applying the restraints without a involuntary psych hold isn't considered a false imprisonment anymore, or my coworkers clearly want to get me in trouble for violating pt rights ?