Forensic client in local ER/hospital

sa48sh · Jan 31, 2001

Originally posted by sheryl522:
Can anyone tell me how a prisoner is handled in a local ER/hospital. Does the prisoner give consent for tx if he is competent. Does the officer give consent if the prisoner is incompetent (change in LOC, substances on board, etc.) What if the officer wants prisoner treated and the prisoner refuses. What if the officer wants a drug or alcohol screen and a competent prisoner refuses. I am in West Virginia so in-state replies would be helpful. Thanks!

Shery, Not in W.Va. but.... A pt.is a pt. Same rules apply to them as any Joe off the street.Inmates do not lose their civil rights. a competent pt. may sign for themselves,or refuse any tx they don't want including a drug screen. An officer may not sign for the patient if he is not a relative.If the inmate is unable to sign you treat him the same as some babbling drunk off the street. Wait till he loses consciousness for any heroics. As for drug testing requested by the officer, the pt. still has a right to refuse. And you have an obligation to respect his wishes. He has to answer to the court or the institution he came from as to why he refused. In the institution I work in, and within the guidelines set forth by the NCCHC(National Commission on Correctional Healthcare,we are not aloud to conduct any testing which may be used to charge or punish an inmate. There are trained officers assigned to do any drug testing in the institution. An even then an inmate may refuse(of course He'll probably go to lockdown). Hope this helps

sheryl522 · Jan 31, 2001

Sashi, Thanks for your feedback. You did give me some new information. Our ER Nurse Manager and I had come to a lot of the conclusions that you pointed out. I have not done much work in this area of Nursing and I am finding it very interesting. My hat is off to you and all the others that work in the Corrections environment. Thanks again. Sheryl 522

Originally posted by Sashi48:

Originally posted by sheryl522:
Can anyone tell me how a prisoner is handled in a local ER/hospital. Does the prisoner give consent for tx if he is competent. Does the officer give consent if the prisoner is incompetent (change in LOC, substances on board, etc.) What if the officer wants prisoner treated and the prisoner refuses. What if the officer wants a drug or alcohol screen and a competent prisoner refuses. I am in West Virginia so in-state replies would be helpful. Thanks!
Shery, Not in W.Va. but.... A pt.is a pt. Same rules apply to them as any Joe off the street.Inmates do not lose their civil rights. a competent pt. may sign for themselves,or refuse any tx they don't want including a drug screen. An officer may not sign for the patient if he is not a relative.If the inmate is unable to sign you treat him the same as some babbling drunk off the street. Wait till he loses consciousness for any heroics. As for drug testing requested by the officer, the pt. still has a right to refuse. And you have an obligation to respect his wishes. He has to answer to the court or the institution he came from as to why he refused. In the institution I work in, and within the guidelines set forth by the NCCHC(National Commission on Correctional Healthcare,we are not aloud to conduct any testing which may be used to charge or punish an inmate. There are trained officers assigned to do any drug testing in the institution. An even then an inmate may refuse(of course He'll probably go to lockdown). Hope this helps