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Receiver sought for Iowa hospital that’s alleged to be in a ‘financial freefall’
An Iowa City hospital that is alleged to be in a “financial freefall” and on the brink of financial collapse may soon be placed in receivership. One of the bondholders and biggest lenders for Mercy Hospital-Iowa City went to court on Monday seeking the appointment of a receiver who would take control over the assets […]
Nurse accused of long-running prostitution scheme is sued for sexual battery
A Story County woman is suing a nurse practitioner who is criminally charged with pimping and human trafficking in connection with his Ankeny medical practice. Police and prosecutors allege that for the past 15 years, Carl Markley of Ames, who ran the Wellness Clinic in Ankeny and several other businesses, recruited patients and other individuals […]
Reynolds appeals injunction that blocks abortion restrictions from being enforced
As promised, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has appealed a judge’s decision that blocks the state from enforcing a new law that seeks to ban almost all abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The injunction was issued Monday, three days after Reynolds signed the measure into law. Because of that injunction, abortion up to 20 […]
Damaged nursing home with leaking roof, saturated walls and inadequate staff is fined $500
A central Iowa care facility has been cited by the state for an unrepaired roof and longstanding structural issues that have reportedly left rainwater leaking into the building over the past two years. Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Johnston was recently cited by the state for 18 state and federal health care violations. The Iowa […]
Board suspends license of surgeon who refused to undergo evaluation
The Iowa Board of Medicine has suspended the license of a Des Moines surgeon who refused to undergo a neuropsychological evaluation to gauge his fitness to practice. Ronald S. Bergman, a 74-year-old Iowa-licensed physician who practices plastic and reconstructive surgery, entered into a settlement agreement with the Board of Medicine in January. The board had alleged […]
Clinic: Malpractice award was engineered to win Iowa lawmakers’ support for tort reform
An insurance company engineered a record-setting medical malpractice judgment against an Iowa clinic as part of a successful scheme to have state lawmakers approve tort-reform legislation this year, according a court filing by the clinic’s lawyers. In March 2022, a Johnson County jury awarded more than $97.4 million to the family of a boy who […]
Class-action lawsuit filed against Iowa operator of Pizza Hut stores
Another class-action lawsuit has been filed in federal court on behalf of food-delivery drivers, this time targeting a Pizza Hut operator based in Iowa. The lawsuit, which is similar to those filed against Casey’s General Stores and Domino’s in recent years, was filed this week in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of […]
Restaurant inspection update: Flies, gnats, rodent droppings and expired foods
State, city and county food inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past four weeks, including insect infestations, rodent droppings and expired food. One food truck was shut down for posing an imminent health hazard and two Iowa care facilities for seniors were cited for serious food-safety violations. […]
Injunction blocks enforcement of new abortion restrictions in Iowa
An Iowa judge on Monday issued an injunction that prevents the state from enforcing a new law that seeks to ban almost all abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The temporary injunction was issued three days after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the measure into law. With Monday’s ruling, abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy […]
Nurse accused of theft, possession of meth and accepting $8,000 from patient
The Iowa Board of Nursing has suspended the license of a nursing home caregiver accused of accepting $8,000 from a patient, being under the influence while on duty, theft and drug offenses. In July 2022, the board of nursing charged Tiffany Banghart of Cedar Rapids with initiating an emotional or business relationship with a patient […]
Court decision on injunction that would block new abortion law could come Monday
As Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law on Friday one of the nation’s most restrictive bans on abortion, a Polk County judge heard arguments as to why he should block that law’s enforcement. For 75 minutes, Polk County District Judge Joseph Seidlin heard arguments from the state and from abortion-rights advocates telling the parties he […]
Nurse keeps license after allegations of neglect and evicting a disabled man to the street
An Iowa nursing home administrator who was the subject of a criminal investigation for allegedly evicting a man to the street in a wheelchair and neglecting a seriously ill resident of the same facility will not face any restrictions on her nurse’s license, state regulators have ruled. After recently charging Aimee Crow of Hedrick with […]