title: [Medical-legal issues of physical and pharmacological restraint].
abstract: The use of physical and pharmacological restraint is controversial but is currently accepted as inevitable. It is indicated for controlling behavioral disorders and psychomotor agitation that put patients and third parties at risk. Its indication should be medical, and we should opt for the least restrictive measure. Restraints represent a possible infringement of patients' fundamental rights and require understanding and strict respect for the medical-legal precepts by physicians and other practitioners involved in its application. This article reviews the current legal framework, as well as the medical-legal premises and aspects of applying restraints, with the objective of ensuring maximum respect for patients' rights and the appropriate legal safety in the activity of practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Responsabilidad Profesional. Área de Praxis. Colegio de Médicos de Barcelona. Consejo de Colegios de Médicos de Cataluña. Barcelona. España; Departamento de Medicina. Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Internacional de Catalunya. Barcelona. España; Unidad de Psiquiatría. Fundació Sociosanitaria de Barcelona. Barcelona. España. Electronic address: elgomezduran@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Esperanza L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Gómez-Durán
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Psiquiatría Forense, Instituto de Medicina Legal de Sevilla, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guija
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina. Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Internacional de Catalunya. Barcelona. España.
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ortega-Monasterio
mesh_terms: D003068:Coercion; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005060:Europe; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D012449:Safety; D012926:Social Control, Formal / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain; D014104:Torture; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014754:Violence
chemical_list: D014149:Tranquilizing Agents
keywords: Contención farmacológica; Contención mecánica; Legislación; Legislation; Mechanical restraint; Medidas restrictivas; Pharmacological restraint; Restrictive measures