Senator Mike Moncrief (Texas) opens a Senate inquiry, and hundreds come forward to speak about the abuse and fraud, as well as the personal misery they had gone through under the care of NME. Texas Attorney General obtains a settlement from NME for $10 million, the maximum penalty allowed. The settlement required that each of NME's hospitals have an ombudsman on staff.

Led by Congresswoman Pat Schroeder (Colorado), the US House of Representatives opens an inquiry, leading to a report entitled "Profits of Misery." It was shown that children were a potential "gold mine" to hospitals, because insurance would allow up to six months of inpatient treatment. 19 insurance companies begin actions against NME, alleging fraud and NME settles, paying $89 million and $125 million in two separate settlements.

The U.S. government formally announces that it has settled its giant fraud case with National Medical Enterprises, but it said it continues a far-reaching investigation into individuals and businesses suspected of accepting kickbacks and bribes.

The $379 million settlement is the largest in American history. The settlement, which includes a $33-million criminal fine, settles charges that NME paid kickbacks and bribes to doctors, referral services and other people so they would refer patients to the company's psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals in 30 states, then fraudulently billed Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs for those services. The settlement also includes NME pleading guilty to six counts of paying illegal kickbacks for patient referrals.

NME official files defamation suit against Dr. Wynne. Wynne makes three court requests to get documents and detailed complaints, but the papers are never produced. Complaint withdrawn and official is ordered to pay Dr. Wynne's legal costs. Three days later, Dr. Wynne is hit with another defamation suit, but it also ends up being dismissed.

Charles E. Trojan a former chief executive of a then-NME-owned psychiatric hospital in Chula Vista is convicted on one felony charge of sending threatening communications to a former top manager of the hospital. In the letter to Clawson, Trojan wrote, in part: "The value of your life decreases every day. We have your address. So expect company one dark night when you least expect it. Your life is worthless now."

Dr. Michael Wynne writes to CEO Jeffrey C. Barbakow about his concerns that Tenet has not changed its corporate policy. Barbakow never responds. "I believe that Tenet's committees inaction in these matters and the company's repeated efforts to ensure my silence speaks loudly for the seriousness and validity of these matters," says Dr. Wynne. Tenet responds with lawsuits.

"Since 1966, The Federation, through its dedication to a market-driven philosophy, has evolved into one of Washington's most influential health care policy advocacy organizations."

The Washington Post recently printed a story about the growth of "grassroots movements" that are actually implemented by huge corporations.

"It's ethically problematic when a company creates entities but then tries to pass them off as authentic and spontaneous grass-roots organizations," said Thomas Murray, president of the Hastings Center, a nonprofit group that examines medical ethics. "What bothers me is the deceptiveness."

A celebratory welcome is planned to welcome Kathleen back to freedom, but that morning, her son learns that she has been shocked again.

Upon arrival to the hospital, Mrs. Garrett tells her son that they were trying to coerce her into signing a statement saying she wanted more shock. "I don't want it," she tells her son. "Please."

Mrs. Garrett returns home and receives phone calls from a "home health care aide" from Des Peres who want to visit. Concerns are raised that the hospital will show up and take her away for more shock while Steve is at work. He changes her phone number. A home health care aide shows up at Mrs. Garrett's residence, but per strict instructions, they are turned away and not allowed to see Mrs. Garrett.

Ms. Lawrence responds with a letter asking for detailed information, but does not receive a reply. She fully expects to be hit with a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) lawsuit, and is standing by. She vows that she will not be silenced.

She suggests, as the Shocked! ECT book of the month: QBVII by Leon Uris.

SouthPointe Hospital in St. Louis is under investigation by state and federal authorities because of numerous incidents that threatened the safety, health and privacy of its psychiatric patients.

A listing of psychiatric facilities in St. Louis. Tenet-owned hospitals are in red.

SouthPointe Hospital in St. Louis will remain open -- for now -- while state investigators assess the hospital's plan to correct conditions they say put psychiatric patients in danger.

Missouri Health Department officials have approved SouthPointe Hospital's plans for correcting conditions that government inspectors said endangered psychiatric patients. The approval averts a shutdown of the south St. Louis hospital.

Bedlam at SouthPointe: You might expect hefty fines for such shocking breeches of federal and state regulations. You might expect heads to roll at SouthPointe Hospital, where it all happened in the psychiatric ward. You might expect the hospital's psychiatric unit to be shut down, at least for an hour or two. You might, but most hospital administrators wouldn't. They know better.

Be sure and sign the guestbook. I'll be putting quick updates there about Mrs. Garrett and the case (because it's quick and easier than actually writing out some HTML)

Read some of the news stories about NME's exploits.

The horrors of being a patient at NME: She had agreed as a 17-year-old to enter the hospital, expecting a brief respite from troubled family relationships. But once the doors closed, Ms. Stafford said, she remained inside for 309 days, many of them behind blackened windows in cruel darkness.

Has Jeffrey Barbakow changed Tenet's stripes? Critics don't think so; they think his policies hurt patients; employees resent his grandiose salary and bonuses. Claim he's "not sharing the wealth."

Owner admits kickbacks: One of the nation's largest psychiatric hospital chains yesterday pleaded guilty to kickback and health care fraud charges and agreed to pay a record $379 million in penalties for illegal conduct in hospitals in New Jersey and 29 other states.

Medical firm to plead guilty: A division of National Medical Enterprises will plead guilty to charges of Medicare fraud and conspiracy and pay a record fine of $362.7 million to settle a sweeping federal investigation, company officials said Tuesday.

Ex-psychiatric exec pleads guilty: A former Dallas hospital executive confessed Monday that he bought patients with at least $20 million in bribes to referring physicians and other health care professionals.

61 sue NME: Sixty-one plaintiffs sued National Medical Enterprises Inc. on Monday, alleging that they were "lured or forced" to its psychiatric treatment centers as part of a fraudulent scheme.

American health care. Mishap in the operating theatre: From the Economist (UK), an informative article about the economics of the health care business. Included is a paragraph about Tenet, formerly known as NME.

Ontario sues Tenet Healthcare; says Tenet employees called Ontario health system the "Canadian gravy train."

You can learn more about SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) here.

Listing of Tenet Hospitals - FYI