By Samuel Lopez, USA Herald
A recent lawsuit filed in D.C. points to disturbing allegations leveled against the District’s only for-profit psychiatric hospital—allegations that claim profit margins have been placed above patient welfare. According to the lawsuit, the facility allegedly committed patients when it wasn’t medically necessary, all in a bid to maximize insurance payments.
Inside the Nexus:
- Profit Over Patients: The lawsuit alleges that the hospital systematically admitted patients unnecessarily, driven by an insatiable corporate appetite for revenue.
- Allegations of Neglect: Testimony reveals unsanitary conditions, falsified medical records, and the cruel denial of basic patient rights.
- City in Action: In response to mounting concerns, city agencies have ramped up oversight, with officials promising stricter regulations to ensure quality care.
The narrative begins at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington—a 130-bed facility that has, over the last decade, evolved into a nexus for involuntary commitments in D.C. The allegations, emerging from a civil lawsuit filed in federal court this month, paint a picture of a hospital that, rather than healing, exploits vulnerability for profit.
The lawsuit details a series of events that led to the plaintiff’s involuntary commitment. On April 13, following an argument with her soon-to-be ex-husband, she sought solace near Union Station. Her husband, according to the lawsuit, contacted the police, falsely claiming she was suicidal and had a specific psychiatric diagnosis.
