Final answer:
Changing to bed rest with bathroom privileges typically indicates an improvement allowing for limited mobility; for instance, to assist a patient who struggles with defecation due to psychological and anatomical issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
An explanation for a physician to change a patient's order from complete bed rest to bed rest with bathroom privileges would be that the patient's condition has improved enough to allow for limited mobility without significant risk. For example, bed rest with bathroom privileges could be granted in the case where a patient is unable to defecate effectively due to a psychological barrier and incorrect anatomical position.
Allowing the patient to use the bathroom could help alleviate this problem and is a sign that the physician believes the patient can handle this level of activity without compromise to their health.