RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Physical restraint and the protection of the human rights of immigration detainees in hospitals
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 334
OP 336
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.15-4-334
VO 15
IS 4
A1 Hilary Pickles
A1 Emma Norton
A1 Emma Ginn
A1 Theresa Schleicher
YR 2015
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/15/4/334.abstract
AB Immigration detainees, like prisoners, are entitled to the same standard of healthcare as non-detained patients. When hospital attendance or admission is required, the priority for custodial staff (who for purposes of this article we refer to as ‘escorts’) is to prevent absconding. For that reason, they may wish to use physical restraints, such as handcuffs, and remain with the detainee at all times. This can be degrading for the patient and breach their human rights. Clinicians have professional obligations to all their patients and must object to any restraint methods that risk damaging the patient's right to confidentiality, treatment, health or the therapeutic relationship itself. The starting presumption is that restraints ought not to be used during treatment and only in the most exceptional cases ought escorts to be present during clinical examination or treatment.