Doctor Claims Hospital CFO Defamed Him

AUSTIN, Texas (CN) - The CFO of a Texas hospital fired and defamed its director, saying the "whole operation under (him) was a giant malpractice lawsuit waiting to happen," the ousted doctor claims in court.

Dr. Edward Tyson sued Austin Eating Disorders Partners LLC dba Cedar Springs Austin and its CFO Mark McCallum, in Travis County Court.

Cedar Springs Austin is a "day hospital specializing in the care of persons suffering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and related disorders," Tyson says in the complaint.

Tyson claims he was a partner of the hospital until Dec. 19, 2011, and previously served as its medical director.

"On December 19, 2011, Mr. McCallum informed Dr. Tyson that at a meeting of the Board of Managers on that same date, he and his wife, Mary Tyson, were removed as active members of the partnership and as company managers by a vote of the quorum present," the complaint states.

More than a year later - in fact, last week - McCallum sent an email to several people that contained "blatantly false and defamatory statements" about him, Tyson claims.

Among the defamatory statement, Tyson says, were:

"he sent several patients to OTHER treatment centers while he was medical director because he got financial 'kickbacks' from those centers ...

"The whole operation under Ed was a giant malpractice lawsuit waiting to happen with few patients, high costs and little revenue

"To top things off it turned out to our dismay that Ed had alienated many therapists in and around Austin by stealing their patients and sending them to out of state treatment centers over the years."

Tyson seeks punitive damages for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

He is represented by Robert Anderson, with Anderson Patterson in Austin.

Tyson claims to be "nationally recognized as a leader" in treating eating disorders.

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