Unjustified Restraint: False Imprisonment

Legal & Ethical Issues · Question from the ATI RN Leadership 2023 Proctored Exam study set

Correct answer: False imprisonment

Why this is the answer

False imprisonment occurs when a person is confined without legal authority or their consent.

The bigger concept

False imprisonment is confining a person without legal authority or consent, and restraints — physical, chemical, or a locked door — applied without an immediate safety justification meet that definition. Restraints require a provider order (obtained within a set time in an emergency), documented failure of less-restrictive measures, and time-limited reassessment. Never restrain for staff convenience or as punishment. Compare with assault (threat) and battery (contact).

Related Legal & Ethical Issues practice questions

• The 'Reasonable and Prudent Nurse' Standard: Negligence
• Threatening to Sedate a Disruptive Patient: Assault
• Disclosing a Diagnosis to Family Without Consent: HIPAA
• Wrong Medication After No ID Check: Negligence
• Staying Silent About a Doctor's Mistake: Non-Maleficence

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