Moral Dilemmas Regarding Physical Restraints in Intensive Care Units: Understanding Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence and Justice in the Use of Physical Restraints

Abstract

Junya Zhou,1 Qingzhu Qin,1 Songge Chen,1 Hongmei Zhang2 1Department of Cardiology, Henan Provincial Key Medicine Laboratory of Nursing, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital; Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nursing, Henan Provincial Key Medicine Laboratory of Nursing, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital; Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hongmei Zhang, Department of Nursing, Henan Provincial Key Medicine Laboratory of Nursing, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital; Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, No. 7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450003, People’s Republic of China, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: In intensive care units, patients are often restrained to ensure their safety, with physical restraints being the most commonly used method. However, physical restraints compromises the patient’s freedom, health and comfort, and nurses often face moral dilemmas when deciding whether to use physical restraints. This article examines physical restraints through the four universal principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. Through these principles, the authors will critically explore whether the physical restraints of patients by nurses is ethical in practice and what moral issues exist. This paper also explores conflicts and moral dilemmas for nurses in this context. Finally, suggestions are made on changes to education and clinical practice.Keywords: physical restraints, ethical dilemmas, ethics

Keywords

• physical restraints
• ethical dilemmas
• ethics