1. A. When possible, staff shall advise a patient, in a nonthreatening manner, that continuation of a specific behavior may result in the use of restraint.
2. B. When a physician or registered nurse determines that the use of a restraint is appropriate, staff involved shall make a reasonable effort to verbally persuade the patient to be cooperative with the restraint.
3. C. Staff shall apply a restraint only in accordance with the facility's policy and procedure manual.

4. D. For the patient's safety and the safety of others:

   1. (1) Staff shall place the patient in the restraint in as dignified a manner as the situation permits, using the least amount of physical force necessary;
   2. (2) As necessary, additional staff shall participate in the placement of a patient in restraint;
   3. (3) The patient shall be free from subject prone restraint; and

   4. (4) The patient shall be free from a restraint that:

      1. (a) Applies pressure to the patient’s back;
      2. (b) Obstructs the airway of the patient or impairs the patient’s ability to breathe;
      3. (c) Obstructs a staff member’s view of the patient’s face; or
      4. (d) Restricts the patent’s ability to communicate distress.
5. E. Unless a physician or registered nurse determines that it is unsafe to do so, staff shall permit the patient to wear all or a portion of the patient's own clothes or another form of attire.
6. F. Staff shall search the patient for potentially harmful objects.
7. G. If staff determine a need for objects to be removed pursuant to §F of this regulation, staff shall ask the patient, in a nonthreatening manner, to surrender the objects.
8. H. Unless contraindicated for safety reasons, staff shall permit the patient to wear eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, or prosthetic devices.
9. I. When placing a patient in a restraint, staff shall inspect each restraining device and ensure that each restraining device is safely and securely applied.
10. J. As necessary, staff shall ensure that each restraint is padded to provide appropriate protection for the patient.

Authority: Health-General Article, §§10-101(g) and 10-701, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: October 25, 1993 (20:21 Md. R. 1654)

Regulation .01 amended effective February 14, 2026 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .02B amended effective February 14, 2026 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .03 amended effective February 14, 2026 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .05 amended effective February 14, 2026 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .06D amended effective February 14, 2026 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .08D amended effective February 14, 2026 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .09 amended effective February 14, 2026 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation 10D amended effective February 14, 2026 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .12D, F amended effective February 14, 2026 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)