Lawsuit Against Health Care Facility Over Mistreatment of 12-Year-Old 

In a disturbing case that raises questions about health care practices in mental health facilities, a father in Frankfort, Indiana, took legal action against Options Behavioral Health and its parent company, Acadia Healthcare. His suit alleges Acadia drugged and detained his daughter without justification.

Plaintiff claims that staff at Options Behavioral Health Hospital, a psychiatric facility, administered potent drugs to his 12-year-old daughter. He avers further that she endured physical altercations. All the while, Acadia’s facility withheld critical information from her family.

The Story Unfolds: A Cry for Help Turns Into a Nightmare

The incident began on September 2 when the father brought his daughter, who had attempted to take her own life, to the emergency room at Witham Health Services in Lebanon, Indiana. After assessing her condition, emergency staff transferred her to Options Behavioral Health Hospital, an inpatient facility an hour away in Lawrence, Indiana. He hoped his daughter would receive the help she needed.

Instead, he encountered a troubling lack of transparency. Both he and his wife found it difficult to obtain information about their daughter’s care.

“We just kept calling them and they were stonewalling us,” said mother Elizabeth Inman, a nurse by profession. “As a nurse, I always take phone calls and answer questions, especially from concerned parents. I couldn’t believe what we were dealing with.”

Allegations of Drugging and Detention Without Justification

When the parents were finally able to speak to their daughter, they found her disoriented and heavily medicated. The lawsuit states that the facility had already begun administering “the shot”—an injection containing a mix of powerful drugs—which left her unaware of her surroundings and unable to protect herself.

According to the lawsuit, “the shot” is notorious for causing prolonged drowsiness and a state of unawareness in patients.

It also claims that Options Behavioral Health staff failed to protect the patient. The lawsuit alleges Acadia’s facility allowed  her to engage in physical altercations with other patients. 

Held Against Her Will: Legal Allegations of Improper Detention

One of the most disturbing allegations in the lawsuit is that the Acadia facility held the patient at Options Behavioral Health without any legitimate medical reason. The Plaintiff claims that, rather than focusing on her health care needs, the facility acted out of line with its mission to provide compassionate mental health care. We have seen allegations across the country that Acadia detains people unnecessarily as a profit-driven motive.

A Pattern of Health Care Concerns: More Cases Surface

This  case is not an isolated one. We have seen multiple lawsuits against Options Behavioral Health. They include similar claims from adult patients who allege Acadia owned facilities detained patients without sufficient justification. 

In addition to this local case, Acadia Healthcare, the parent company of Options Behavioral Health, recently faced a U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) investigation. Acadia agreed to pay nearly $20 million after accusations of filing false Medicare and Medicaid claims between 2014 and 2017. The USDOJ alleged that Acadia admitted patients who did not require inpatient treatment, failed to release patients when appropriate, and failed to maintain adequate staffing and safety protocols, leading to dangerous outcomes.

Acadia Healthcare’s Response to Criticism

In response to these allegations, Acadia Healthcare issued statements emphasizing its commitment to patient care. While declining to discuss specific cases due to privacy laws, Acadia reiterated licensed providers make treatment decisions uninfluenced by financial considerations.

Acadia’s Chief Executive Officer commented on recent improvements at the company, stating, “Ensuring we provide the highest quality of care is personal for me and the number one priority for my colleagues across the company.” He noted that Acadia has been implementing new protocols, expanding leadership, and investing in training, yet acknowledged that these efforts would take time to show full results.

Seeking Justice and Change

The latest family to sue hopes their lawsuit will protect other children and prevent further incidents like their daughter’s experience. Despite transferring the patient to another mental health care facility, the family remains haunted by their traumatic experience. “She still sleeps with the door open . . . . It makes me terrified they’ve done some permanent damage to her, and I’m scared of that.”

Health Care Providers Must be Held Accountable: Know Your Rights

The family suggests others facing similar situations ask mental health facilities for a Patient Bill of Rights, which outlines a patient’s legal protections.  Once a patient and family establish proper, safe care, they should seek legal counsel concerning any wrongful detention, physical injuries, and distress Acadia’s practices caused. 

KBA Attorneys Investigating Health Care Cases 

KBA Attorneys is actively investigating cases involving questionable practices at mental health facilities. If you or a loved one experienced mistreatment, improper detention, or inadequate health care at a psychiatric facility, KBA Attorneys encourages you to reach out. Our legal team is dedicated to holding health care providers accountable and ensuring the safety and rights of patients. We believe no one should endure mistreatment in a system meant to protect them.

If this story resonates with your experience, please contact us today. Together, we can work to prevent further harm and advocate for change in mental health care practices.

This post serves as a call to action for transparency, accountability, and reform within the health care system. Families deserve assurance that their loved ones will receive compassionate, ethical care in times of crisis, and KBA Attorneys is here to advocate for their rights.