Legal intervnt w injury by tear gas, suspect inj, sequela

This code signifies a long-term or late-occurring health problem resulting from an injury sustained by a suspect due to tear gas exposure during a legal intervention. It indicates that the initial injury has led to a persistent condition or complication.

Apply this code when documenting a patient's current medical condition that is a direct consequence of a tear gas injury sustained as a suspect during an encounter with law enforcement. This would include chronic respiratory issues, persistent skin irritation, or long-term ocular damage that developed after the initial incident.

• Always use this code as a secondary diagnosis, following the code for the specific sequela (e.g., chronic bronchitis, dermatitis).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the past tear gas exposure during legal intervention.
• The "S" in the seventh character indicates a sequela, meaning the residual effect of an old injury, not the acute injury itself.