Indictment: Texas hospital held patients

FORT WORTH — A Texas corporation that runs behavioral health hospitals is accused of illegally holding four patients, two of whom were voluntary patients allegedly prohibited from leaving.

SAS Healthcare Inc. was indicted Wednesday on nine counts of violating the Texas Mental Health Code, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The indictment alleges the corporation known as Sundance Behavioral Healthcare System detained two patients involuntarily at its Arlington facility longer than the 48 hours allowed without a court order. It also accuses the company of not allowing two voluntary patients to leave.

The health care system offers inpatient and outpatient treatment specializing in mental health, chemical dependency and detoxification, according to its website.

— Bloomberg News