Cal. Code Regs. tit. 9 § 1115

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 24, June 14, 2024
Section 1115 - Clinical Restraint, Treatment Restraint, and Clinical Seclusion
(a) Written policies and procedures concerning the use of clinical restraint, treatment restraint, and clinical seclusion shall be developed and approved by the correctional treatment center administration.
(b) Clinical restraint and clinical seclusion shall be based on a written or verbal order of a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Clinical restraint shall additionally require a physician's or physician's assistant's, or nurse practitioner's written or verbal approval operating under the supervision of a physician. The order shall include the reason for restraint or seclusion and the types of restraints. Under emergency circumstances, clinical restraint or clinical seclusion may be applied and then an approval and/or an order shall be obtained as soon as possible, but at least within one hour of application. Emergency circumstances exist when there is a sudden marked change in the inmate-patient's condition so that action is immediately necessary for the preservation of life or the prevention of serious bodily harm to the inmate-patient or others, and it is impractical to first obtain an order and approval. Telephone orders and approvals for clinical restraint and clinical seclusion shall be received only by licensed medical and mental health care staff, shall be recorded immediately in the inmate-patient's health record, and shall be signed within twenty-four (24) hours.
(c) A physician shall complete a medical assessment of an inmate-patient at the earliest opportunity but not later than twenty four (24) hours after the inmate-patient has been placed in a clinical restraint or clinical seclusion.
(d) Clinical restraint, treatment restraint and clinical seclusion shall only be used as a measure to prevent injury to self or others. Clinical restraint, treatment restraint and clinical seclusion shall only be used when less restrictive alternative methods are not sufficient to protect the inmate-patient or others from injury, and shall not be used as punishment or as a substitute for more effective programming or for the convenience of the staff. Removing an inmate-patient from an activity or area to another unlocked area for a period of time as a way to use separation as a behavioral modification technique shall not be considered clinical seclusion.
(e) Each order for clinical restraint and clinical seclusion shall be in force no longer than twenty-four (24) hours.
(f) There shall be no PRN orders (as needed orders) for clinical restraint and clinical seclusion.
(g) An inmate-patient placed in a clinical restraint shall be physically checked at least every fifteen (15) minutes by nursing staff to assure that the restraints remain properly applied, that circulation is not impaired, that the inmate-patient is not in danger of harming himself or herself, and that other medical problems are not present. Fluids and nourishment shall be provided every two (2) hours, except during sleep. An opportunity to use a toilet or, when necessary, an alternative shall be provided every two hours, except during sleep. An inmate-patient placed in clinical seclusion shall be checked by nursing staff at least every fifteen (15) minutes. Routine range of motion exercises shall be done with clinically restrained inmate-patients for at least ten (10) minutes every two hours. A written record shall be kept of these checks and exercises, and maintained in the individual inmate-patient health record.
(h) The inmate-patient's health record shall include written justification for the application of clinical restraints, note the times of application and removal of clinical restraints and document the inmate-patient's status, the judgment of a physician or clinical psychologist on the necessity of continuing the order, and the approval of a physician on the medical safety of the continuation of restraints at a minimum of once every twenty-four (24) hours.
(i) Clinical and treatment restraints shall be used in such a way as to minimize the risk of physical injury to the inmate-patient and to ensure the least possible discomfort. The minimum necessary force shall be used. Belts and cuffs shall be well padded.
(j) Clinical restraints shall be placed on inmate-patients only in an area that is under direct observation of staff. Such inmate-patients shall be afforded protection from other inmate-patients who may also be in the area.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 9, § 1115

1. New section filed 7-14-94; operative 1-2-96 (Register 94, No. 28).
2. Change without regulatory effect renumbering former section 795 to new section 1115 filed 8-31-95 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 95, No. 34).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 1250.1(a)(12) and 1267.10(a), Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1250(j) and 1254, Health and Safety Code; and Section 5325, Welfare and Institutions Code.

1. New section filed 7-14-94; operative 1-2-96 (Register 94, No. 28).
2. Change without regulatory effect renumbering former section 795 to new section 1115 filed 8-31-95 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 95, No. 34).