Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Corrections
 
Board
State Board of Local and Regional Jails
 
chapter
Minimum Standards for Jails and Lockups [6 VAC 15 ‑ 40]
Action Amend Minimum Standards for Jails and Lockups to add requirements on restraint of pregnant offenders
Stage Proposed
Comment Period Ended on 9/27/2013
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9/27/13  11:51 pm
Commenter: Alan Denekas, MD

Using restraints in pregnant and/or laboring women
 

the process of restraining a woman in late pregnancy or in labor would run a significant risk of trauma to the baby and possibly causing the placenta to separate early, cutting off the baby's oxygen supply and possibly causing the mother to hemorrhage.  Once the mother is restrained in labor, if there were a dystocia problem, it Might not be possible to maneuver the mother quickly enough to save they baby.

CommentID: 29122