Legal intervention (Y35) ICD-10-CM

About the Y35 Code Range

The ICD-10 codes in the Y35 section describe injuries sustained during legal interventions, such as actions taken by law enforcement or other authorities. These codes specify the type of force used—ranging from firearms to blunt or sharp objects—as well as the status of the injured person, including law enforcement officials, bystanders, suspects, or unspecified individuals.

This section includes codes like Y35.0 for firearm discharges during legal intervention, with subcodes detailing whether a law enforcement official, suspect, bystander, or an unspecified person was injured. For example, "Legal execution," "Legal execution by shooting," and "Lawful killing" are synonyms linked to codes such as Y35.003. Other codes cover injuries from explosives (Y35.1), gases including tear gas (Y35.2), blunt objects like batons (Y35.3), sharp objects including bayonets (Y35.4), conducted energy devices (Y35.83), and various other specified or unspecified means. These codes also mark the encounter type—initial, subsequent, or sequela—to document the treatment timeline. By using these precise ICD-10 codes, healthcare professionals can accurately record the cause and circumstances of injuries sustained during legal intervention incidents.