A shocking lawsuit exposes a sinister scheme at a DC psychiatric hospital, where patients were allegedly imprisoned against their will to line the pockets of greedy executives. The Psychiatric Institute of Washington stands accused of trampling on constitutional rights and exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit. This disturbing case sheds light on the dark underbelly of America’s mental health system and the urgent need to protect citizens from abusive practices.

Profit-Driven Psychiatric Abuse Exposed

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington, part of Universal Health Services, faces serious allegations of involuntarily committing patients without medical necessity. This shocking practice was allegedly implemented to boost insurance payments and increase profits for the hospital.

This is exactly what happens and it is rampant in community mental health systems! The easiest way to run this racket is through Medicaid. I tried to deny services to children who didn’t need it because their mother was a migrant driving a brand new forerunner trying to collect… pic.twitter.com/KtuhM0O4nI

— Aunty Kitty (@wake_up_girl_3) February 18, 2025

A lawsuit claims that one patient was held captive for four days with falsified mental health records. The victim was reportedly denied access to a phone, effectively cutting off communication with the outside world.

Constitutional Rights Violated for Financial Gain

The hospital is accused of falsifying a “safety risk assessment” to maximize insurance billing. This deceitful practice allowed them to extract more money from insurance companies while keeping patients unnecessarily confined.

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) on Wisconsin Avenue is under scrutiny for how it treats patients.
The 130-bed facility is DC’s only for profit psychiatric hospital.

DC psych hospital committed patients to boost profits, lawsuit says https://t.co/xFhzLFthEK

— Tenleytown & Around (@Tenleytown411) February 25, 2025

The lawsuit alleges violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act, the D.C. Human Rights Act, and constitutional rights. These serious accusations highlight the blatant disregard for patient welfare and legal protections.

Widespread Abuse and Cover-Up Alleged

The suit seeks damages and class certification for thousands of patients potentially affected by these practices. This suggests that the alleged abuses may be far more widespread than initially thought.

Universal Health Services, which operates over 400 private for-profit hospitals in the U.S. and U.K., has remained silent on the allegations. Their refusal to comment raises further suspicions about the validity of the claims.

The city’s behavioral health department has already reviewed 600 cases of involuntary admission. This investigation could potentially uncover even more instances of abuse and illegal confinement.

Universal Health Services has a history of similar lawsuits, including a $122 million settlement in Georgia. The company also faced allegations of abuse in Illinois, indicating a potentially systemic issue within their operations.

Sources:

Lawsuit: Psych Hospital Faked Records to Boost Profits

Universal Health Services hospital accused of boosting profits with involuntary commitment practices