Protocol: Patients in Law Enforcement Custody

Original effective date

Introduction

There are times when it may be necessary to transport a patient that is being held in law enforcement custody. These patient may be restrained utilizing various restraint devices that are common in the law enforcement field. There are also times that a patient may be restrained utilizing equipment from the medical field for the patient's safety.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Procedure:

1. Determine if the patient is in the custody of law enforcement.
2. Determine if the patient will be released from custody of law enforcement prior to transport.
3. Determine if the patient will be restrained by any law enforcement equipment, i.e. handcuffs, leg irons etc.
4. Patients that are restrained using handcuffs, leg irons etc., shall only be transported with law enforcement personnel in attendance of the patient at all times.
5. Patients that are under law enforcement custody shall be controlled by restricted by law enforcement.
6. It is not EMS personnel responsibility to restrain a patient for a law enforcement purpose and it shall not be done by EMS personnel.
7. EMS personnel may assist restraining a patient to a backboard if the patient presents an imediate danger to self or others.
8. Medical Control must be consulted as soon as possible if any patient is restrained to prevent danger to self or others.