Los Angeles General Medical Center restrained patients in its psychiatric inpatient unit at the fourth-highest rate of any such facility in the United States, newly released annual figures show — the latest evidence of a persistent pattern that has troubled local leaders and mental health advocates.
Under federal law, hospitals are prohibited from restraining psychiatric patients except to prevent them from harming themselves or others. Patients are only supposed to be strapped down as a measure of last resort after other steps fail. Experts warn it can traumatize patients, damage trust and ramp up the risk of injuries.
The L.A. County-run public hospital again had the highest rate of restraining psychiatric inpatients of any facility in California, according to data released this week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The latest figures from the federal government cover the year 2022.