Intentional self-harm by hot tap water, subsequent encounter

This code indicates an injury resulting from a patient deliberately harming themselves using hot tap water, and the patient is presenting for follow-up care or treatment of complications from the initial injury. This typically involves burns sustained from immersion in or exposure to excessively hot water from a faucet or shower, inflicted with suicidal intent or other self-injurious behavior.

Apply this code when a patient is seen for ongoing management of burns, infection, scarring, or psychological sequelae stemming from a self-inflicted injury involving hot tap water, after the initial treatment has already occurred. This code is appropriate for any encounter following the initial presentation for the injury.

• Ensure documentation clearly states the injury was self-inflicted and involved hot tap water.
• The "D" seventh character signifies a subsequent encounter, meaning the patient is receiving routine care during the healing or recovery phase.
• Always code the specific burn injury (e.g., T20-T25 with appropriate seventh character) as the primary diagnosis, with this code as an external cause code.