Introduction:
At present in nursing homes in Poland, there are nearly 80,000 residents. The majority of them are chronically mentally ill or mentally disabled. Considering the character of these two groups of disorders, the patients affected belong to the group at increased risk of occurrence of behaviour disorders which require the use of coercive measures. The objective of this study is the presentation of legal regulations in effect, together with a commentary, as well as the description of the correct keeping of medical records in social welfare in facilities in the above-mentioned cases. In Polish law, physical coercion is defined in the Act in the Matter of Protection of Mental health of 1994, issued based on amendments to this Act the Regulation by the Minister of health, which precisely describes indications for physical coercion. Every time, the use of coercive measures should be considered as a last resort. Polish legal regulations valid in this area allow the use of four various forms of coercive measures, each of them, to a greater or lesser extent, is the limitation of a patient’s freedom. When choosing a coercive measure it is necessary to consider the degree of risk of a patient being in danger of harming himself/herself or others in the nearest surrounding, and apply legal regulations which would limit the probability of committing mistakes.