Does a person in a hospital have a right to refuse a sponge bath?!


Question: Does a person in a hospital have a right to refuse a sponge bath.?
If a person feels humiliated by getting a sponge bath (maybe because it's a person of the opposite sex, or maybe because the person is very modest), does he have a right to refuse the bath.? If not, does the nurse have a right to restrain the patient and bath him/her against his will.?Health Question & Answer


Answers:
When you are in the hospital, you have the right to refuse anything. This includes a bath. The only way that a person would be restrained is if they were harming themselves, harming others, or were so confused/disoriented that they were disrupting medical devices or interventions. In these circumstances only, a doctor can write an order for a patient to be restrained, but without meeting these conditions, the restraints are illegal. Health Question & Answer

Yes, you can refuse a sponge bath, it happens quite often, I see it most with the younger generation and I assume it is because they are humiliated. And NO the nurse cannot restrain you to give you a sponge bath. You cannot be restrained without a Doctor's order and a doctor is not going to order you to take a bath unless it is an extreme situation i.e. you are being prepped for surgery or something like that.Health Question & Answer

Well considering patient's rights are a big topic at most hospitals, anyone can refuse mostly anything.

I hate to burst your bubble though, if you get a nurse to bathe you, you are either so sick that you cannot even speak or move, or your wife/girlfriend is a nurse one.. Nurses do not give bath's out to all of the patients. They will bring you a wash basin with some soap and a wash cloth and tell you to call them when you are done.

Health Question & Answer

Yes and No. If the person is uncomfortable, explain to the head nurse or dr. If the person needs to be washed up to avoid infection or health problems and gets out of hand, then I guess they would restrain them but only if absolutely necessary and the patient isnt agreeing. Health Question & Answer

You can refuse. Or request a member of the same sex. But, if you are unable to do it yourself, sorry you will still get one. Depending upon the patients state of mind (dementia, withdrawls) they may have to be restrained. Restraints also require a doctors order. Health Question & Answer

They ASK if you want a sponge bath and it isn't required. Hey, if a nice lady nurse wants to wash me I am all for it...in fact the last time I was in the hospital I had two female nurses giving me a sponge bath at the same time - talk about a good time!Health Question & Answer

The patient has the right to refuse, its his or her choice whether or not to be bathed by someone else. They are the ones paying for the medical expenses anyway, not the hospital.Health Question & Answer

if you stink and they dont give you a bath they can cop fines for not looking after your health and welfare. they like to keep hospitals cleanHealth Question & Answer

could ask for a same sex nurse, but they need to keep hygene levels at the hospital.Health Question & Answer

I would love a sponge bath from some hot nurse.Health Question & Answer

YesHealth Question & Answer



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