A federal grand jury has brought serious criminal charges against the former leader of Arkansas’s medical oversight board, alleging he orchestrated a scheme to illegally sedate psychiatric patients for financial gain.
Dr. Brian Hyatt, who previously served as chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board, faces federal kidnapping and drug distribution charges stemming from his alleged actions at a Springdale psychiatric facility. Prosecutors claim Hyatt administered powerful sedatives to patients without proper medical reasons, keeping them hospitalized longer to maximize insurance reimbursements.
The indictment, handed down in early March and made public Monday, details alleged misconduct at Northwest Medical Center Behavioral Health Unit spanning from 2018 to 2022. During this period, Hyatt’s medical company held a contract to deliver psychiatric care at the facility.
Seven additional healthcare workers face related charges in connection with the alleged scheme. Some staff members are accused of staying silent about the misconduct to protect their jobs, according to the indictment. These employees allegedly falsified medical documentation, using standard template notes rather than accurate patient assessments to hide the lack of proper treatment.
The charges against other workers include more direct involvement in patient abuse. Federal prosecutors allege at least one employee deliberately broke a patient’s collarbone while physically restraining her to force compliance with unneeded procedures. Additional staff members allegedly employed threats and physical violence to coerce patients into accepting unnecessary treatments while preventing victims from reporting the abuse.
Those convicted could face life imprisonment, along with up to five years of court supervision and fines reaching $250,000.
As of Monday evening, no legal representation had been publicly identified for Hyatt or the seven co-defendants. The Arkansas State Medical Board has not responded to requests for comment regarding the charges.
