Paper Says Hundreds Die in Restraints

Hundreds of people across the nation have died after being restrained in psychiatric and mental retardation facilities in the last decade, the Hartford Courant reported. The newspaper’s investigation confirmed 142 restraint-related deaths, many involving children, since 1988. The true death count may be three to 10 times higher because many cases are not reported to authorities, according to a statistical estimate commissioned by the Courant. Restraints such as straitjackets and bed straps, supposed to be used only as a last resort, are commonly used for discipline, punishment or the convenience of staff at psychiatric and mental institutions, the newspaper said.