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Management of potentially violent detainees
1Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London SE5 8AF, UK.
Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine
|September 1, 2004
Summary
Healthcare professionals face violence risks, especially when assessing police detainees. Understanding aggression causes and risk assessment strategies can help doctors minimize personal danger during clinical evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Medicine
- Occupational Health
- Clinical Risk Management
Background:
- Healthcare workers frequently experience threats and violence.
- Police surgeons report high rates of physical violence (18% in one study).
- Aggression in clinical settings often has preceding indicators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the causes of violence in healthcare settings.
- To provide guidance on systematically assessing violence risk.
- To outline management strategies for clinical assessments of detained individuals.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on causes of aggression.
- Framework for risk assessment in clinical evaluations.
- Guidance on managing aggressive behavior.
Main Results:
- Violence towards healthcare staff is a significant occupational hazard.
- Systematic risk assessment is crucial for managing potentially violent individuals.
- Proactive strategies can mitigate risks during patient assessments.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the etiology of violence is key to prevention.
- Effective risk assessment and management are vital for clinician safety.
- This review provides practical guidance for healthcare professionals assessing detained individuals.