6 Mar 2017

Tie down techniques out of date and "inhumane" - Psychiatrist

From Morning Report, 7:17 am on 6 March 2017

Revelations that Corrections is still restraining some inmates by tying them to their beds, has come as a surprise to psychiatrists, who say that practice is out of date.

Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier's report last week into the care of prisoners at risk of suicide and self harm, alleges Corrections has broken the law and breached the Convention against Torture.

Judge Boshier highlights five cases in which inmates were restrained for most of the day, and has rejected Correction's claim that staff were doing it to save patient's lives.

Auckland psychiatrist David Codyre said restraints had not been used in mainstream mental health services for decades and should not be used in prison.

He told Morning Report it is "inhumane."