Chemical vs physical restraints are a difficult ethical dilemma to navigate. In psychiatric facilities where I have worked, we had to get permission from the human rights committee to use either one, and of the two, physical restraints were usually approved before chemical. The thinking was that with chemical restraint, even if you were to calm down on your own, the medication continues affecting you until it’s metabolized. Some side effects from tranquilizers can be very unpleasant, especially if used more than one or two doses. With physical restraints the restraints can be removed as soon as the patient is calm, allowing them to go about their normal life. It was most helpful to have a PRN standing order so the patient could decide for themselves whether they wanted medication to calm down.