Dealing with Violent Dangerous Patients: The Medicolegal Pitfalls

Abstract

Making the call to “Take someone down” in the ED is never to be taken lightly. The only time such a drastic decision should be made is to prevent imminent harm to the patient or others. It should always be the most senior doctor in the department at the time who makes the clinical decision that the physical and/or chemical restraint of a person is necessary and sanctioned by law at that time.