Restraint Alternative

On December 13, 2011, I underwent a bone scan at the University of Michigan Department of Radiology. To immobilize me, a Dale abdominal binder was put around me by a medical technician; it took her a few seconds to do so. From that point on, I was unable to move my arms even a millimeter, yet I experienced no pain. It immediately occurred to me that this binder would be very useful in law enforcement and psychiatric wards that house violent psychotic patients.

In medical settings, patients are restrained by various means, like leather cuffs or sheets. Police rely on handcuffs. Being handcuffed is humiliating and gives the prisoner an opportunity to use the handcuffs to attack a policeman. I know that in some instances a chain is put around the individual and that handcuffs are attached to the chain.

Because of my experience and hypothesis, I asked the medical technician to give me information about the abdominal binder. It is manufactured by Dale Medical Products (www.dalemed.com).  

Emanual Tanay, M.D., Ann Arbor, Mich.