What is it about?

The use of a pulse oximeter to detect when a patients 's blood oxygen becomes too low, during seclusion, restraint or involuntary medication. The oximetry should also be used after the restraint etc. to check fot bronchospasm and aspiration into the lungs of vomit due to stress..

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Why is it important?

To prevent patient's from dying or having brain damage due to seclusion, restraint, and involuntary medication

Perspectives

Every medical facility uses pulse oximeters which generally are available to anyone without prescription , for less that 40 us dollars. The pulse oximeter is used to detect low oxygen saturation in the blood, indication the possibility of brain damage. It only makes sense to use it in and after the psychiatric procedures of seclusion, restraint, involuntary medication and chemical restraint and PRN medication use to calm patients.

Kim Masters
Wake Forest University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Use of Pulse Oximetry During Restraint Episodes, Psychiatric Services, October 2005, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.56.10.1313.
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