Suppose a patient committed to a psychiatric hospital refuses to take showers or otherwise partake in any sort of personal hygiene. Would the psychiatric hospital have any ability to intervene--in terms of physical force--to make sure this patient is hygienic, or would it simply be relegated to letting the patient be?
Answer by MeAgain
Because hygiene is an important factor, they might let them go 2 or 3 days before the would intervene.
It would either be done by talking with the person until they cooperated and if not then a sponge bath would need to be given.
Answer by birdgirl123
This is a hypothetical answer:
If you're talking about hosing down a patient like one sees in the movies - it will never happen that way. First course of action would be the psychiatrist and treatment team talking to the patient to first determine why it is the patient won't bathe. Many times just asking why can result in a resolution. Perhaps more privacy is needed, or the patient is having fearful thoughts about the issue that a change in medication would help, or will only use certain products that aren't available and could possibly be obtained. Finding an answer to the "why" is probably the most important part.
At the other end of the spectrum, if the patient is a health problem to himself or others, he could be placed in seclusion until a court order is obtained to have him sedated and then having a nurse bathe him, much like you would a person who is hospitalized for an illness - perhaps restraints would be necessary, but most likely I think would be a last resort as to not further traumatize the patient.
I would think just letting him be would not be an option as it's not in the best interests of anyone to be left unbathed and this might also be considered abusive treatment of a mentally ill person, by not providing him with a clean and hygienic environment.
Answer by ghost
They will ask if you took a shower but usually they don't care.
Orignal From: How much power can a psychiatric hospital exert over a patient in this situation?
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