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 seclusion.
2. B. When a physician or registered nurse determines that the use of seclusion is appropriate, staff involved shall make a reasonable effort to verbally persuade the patient to enter the seclusion room.

3. C. For patient's safety and the safety of others:

   1. (1) Staff shall place the patient in the seclusion room 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 seclusion;
   3. (3) The patient shall be free from prone restraint; and

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

      1. (a) Applies pressure to the individual’s back;
      2. (b) Obstructs the airway of the individual or impairs the individual’s ability to breathe;
      3. (c) Obstructs a staff member’s view of the individual’s face; or
      4. (d) Restricts the individual’s ability to communicate distress.
4. D. 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.
5. E. Staff shall search the patient for potentially harmful objects.
6. F. If staff determines a need for objects to be removed pursuant to §E of this regulation, staff shall ask the patient, in a nonthreatening manner, to surrender the objects.
7. G. Unless contraindicated for safety reasons, staff shall permit the patient to wear eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, or prosthetic devices.
8. H. Staff shall inspect the seclusion room for potentially dangerous conditions and, as appropriate, shall fully secure the room.
9. I. If a patient is confined to a room in a manner that meets the definition of seclusion in accordance with Regulation .02B of this chapter, the patient is considered to be subject to seclusion, regardless of whether the room used is typically used as a seclusion room.

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 November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .02B amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .03 amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .04 amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .05C amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .05I adopted effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .06C amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .07 amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .08D amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .01D, F amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)

Regulation .12B amended effective November 24, 2025 (52:23 Md. R. 1139)