Physical restraint restricts a patient's freedom and should only be used when absolutely essential for the maintenance and protection of the patient's life and health from a medical perspective. It must be conducted with respect for the patient's human rights and limited to the minimum extent necessary. Without easily justifying restraint, each staff member will understand the physical and mental harms caused by restraint, maintain an awareness toward minimizing restraint, and strive to provide medical care and nursing that do not use physical restraint, except in emergency and unavoidable situations.

1) Definition of Physical Restraint

"The restriction of action that temporarily restrains the body of the relevant patient using clothing or padded bands, etc., to suppress their movement."

Definition of physical restraint in the Ministry of Health and Welfare Notification No. 129 on April 8, 1988.

In providing medical care, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare specified specific actions that constitute restricting the behavior of inpatients in the "Handbook for Zero Physical Restraint, March 2001 (Heisei 13)."

In March 2024 (Reiwa 6), the Committee for the Promotion of Abolishing and Preventing Physical Restraint presented the "Handbook for the Abolition and Prevention of Physical Restraint," aiming to realize the "preservation of dignity" and "support for independence."

2) Specific Actions Subject to the Prohibition of Physical Restraint, etc.

"Handbook for Zero Physical Restraint, March 2001 (Heisei 13)", Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Council for the Promotion of Zero Physical Restraint Strategy"

① Tying the torso or limbs to a wheelchair, chair, or bed with strings, etc., to prevent wandering.

② Tying the torso or limbs to a bed with strings, etc., to prevent falling.

③ Enclosing a bed with rails (side rails) so that the patient cannot get down by themselves.

④ Tying the limbs with strings, etc., to prevent the removal of tubes for intravenous drips, enteral nutrition, etc.

⑤ Putting on mitten-type gloves, etc., that restrict finger functions to prevent the removal of tubes for intravenous drips, enteral nutrition, etc., or to prevent scratching the skin.

⑥ Attaching a Y-shaped restraint belt, waist belt, or wheelchair table to prevent slipping off or standing up from a wheelchair or chair.

⑦ Using a chair that prevents a person capable of standing up from doing so.

⑧ Putting on a care suit (one-piece jumpsuit) to restrict the removal of clothing or diapers.

⑨ Tying the torso or limbs to a bed, etc., with strings, etc., to prevent acts of nuisance to others.