Patients in Custody of LEO Policy PDF

Policy 509 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Patients in Custody of LEO - 1 Patients in Custody of LEO 509.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to establish approp...

Policy 509 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Patients in Custody of LEO - 1 Patients in Custody of LEO 509.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to establish appropriate management of patients in the custody of, detained, or arrested by, a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO). 509.1.1 DEFINITIONS Custody- a person who is detained or under arrest by a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) for a specific reason or offense. Detained- means that an individual has been restricted in their freedom of movement by a LEO for a limited time and under limited circumstances although the individual is not formally under arrest. Under Arrest- an action by a LEO where by an individual is taken into physical restraint and taken to jail or some other area of confinement as authorized by law. 509.2 POLICY Management of patients under law enforcement custody shall be in accordance with currently accepted standards of care, local/regional protocols, or department directives. 509.3 MEDICAL CLEARENCE Only a physician (physician assistant) in a hospital emergency department or jail medical staff can “medically clear” a patient who is in custody. CFD members CANNOT “medically clear” a patient. They may, after complete assessment, report that a patient’s vital signs appear to be stable and that in the member’s judgment the patient does not warrant ambulance transport to a receiving hospital emergency department. If the LEO is comfortable transporting the patient either to jail for medical clearance or to a hospital emergency department for medical clearance, the ePCR shall be completed and the reasons for allowing the police to transport the patient should be clearly documented with a disposition of “Treated and Released”. If a LEO requests for a patient under arrest to be transported to the hospital emergency department for medical clearance, then CFD with an accompanying LEO will transport to the hospital emergency department. A patient who is in custody retains the right to self-determination with regard to assessment and treatment. Members should not touch, assess, or treat the patient against their will unless failure to do so would likely result in imminent death or permanent disability. Patients that are under arrest do not have the right to refuse transport. Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Patients in Custody of LEO Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/03/29, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Patients in Custody of LEO - 2 509.4 SPECIAL PROCEDURES 1. If a LEO requests that a CFD member assess a person who is in custody, then that person is a patient and must have an ePCR completed. 2. An assessment of a patient in custody is no different than the assessment of any other patient, assuming the patient consents to the assessment and it is safe to assess the patient. 3. If you are transporting an incompletely assessed/treated patient because the patient would not allow it or because it was unsafe to do so, then notify Medical Control as soon as possible so that appropriate resources can be ready and available at the receiving hospital. 4. If there are any difficulties or disagreements regarding the assessment, treatments, and/or transportation of a person in custody, then notify the Field Medical Officer as soon as possible. 509.5 TRANSPORTING A PATIENT IN CUSTODY OR A PRISONER 1. CFD may be required to provide care and transport for persons in custody or prisoners when requested by a LEO or medical personnel at any correctional facility. 2. A LEO must ride in the back of the ambulance with the patient. CFD policies do not restrict the ability of a LEO to remain armed in the back of ambulance. The LEO should follow their policies for authorized carry. 3. Patients who are assessed to be a potential harm to themselves or others shall be restrained in the safest, least restrictive manner possible. 4. Patients who have been physically restrained prior to the arrival of CFD shall remain restrained throughout assessment, treatment, and transport unless such restraint immediately poses a threat to the patient’s health. 5. At no time shall a patient who is under arrest or a handcuffed patient be transported without the presence of a LEO who has the key to release those handcuffs in the back of the ambulance. 6. All efforts shall be utilized to avoid transporting a restrained patient in a prone position. 7. Restrained patients shall have their cardiopulmonary status continuously monitored and documented. 8. Document circulatory status of restrained extremities every 15 minutes. 9. Contact a Field Medical Officer if there are any questions or concerns regarding the assessment, treatment or transport of the patient.