Brian Hyatt, MD, a psychiatrist at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, Ark., and former medical director of the hospital's behavioral health unit, is now facing 31 lawsuits for false imprisonment and more, according to an Aug. 8 report from local CBS affiliate News 5.
In March, the state reported "credible allegations of fraud" against the physician for Medicaid patients billed between 2019 and 2022. In May, Dr. Hyatt was accused of false imprisonment and sued by 11 patients.
Two months ago, federal officials in Arkansas confirmed that Dr. Hyatt is also under investigation from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
One former patient alleges he was sued by Dr. Hyatt and the hospital for never paying an outstanding bill; however, the bill was for services the patient claims to have never received.
Other patients claim they were held by Dr. Hyatt against their will at Northwest Medical. Efforts by the hospital to collect payments from patients treated by Dr. Hyatt have been suspended, according to the report.
Dr. Hyatt resigned from the state medical board in May. There are many more lawsuits against the physician in the works, according to an attorney representing one of the patients who spoke with the news outlet.