H-1593.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1807

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives D. Schmidt, Dyer, Cody, Backlund and Cooke

Read first time 02/10/97.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Allowing residents of long-term care facilities to request the use of restraints.

    AN ACT Relating to the use of restraints on residents of long-term care facilities; and amending RCW 70.129.120.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 70.129.120 and 1994 c 214 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

    The resident has the right to be free from physical restraint or chemical restraint.  Each resident has the individual right to utilize physical restraints, provided the resident affirms in writing his or her intent to use the physical restraint and the intent is acknowledged in writing by the resident's physician, family member, or guardian ad litem.  In the event a resident is incompetent, an individual holding durable power of attorney for the resident may also declare this intent in writing for the resident, provided that the resident's physician recommends and affirms in writing the use of the physical restraint.  This section does not require or prohibit facility staff from reviewing the judgment of the resident's physician in prescribing psychopharmacologic medications.

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