This bill amends the statute of repose for medical malpractice claims in Iowa, specifically addressing the time limits within which a claimant can bring forth a lawsuit. Under current law, medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years of the claimant becoming aware of the injury or death, and no later than six years after the alleged act or omission that caused the injury or death. The existing law already provides an exception for cases involving a foreign object left in the body, allowing claims to be filed beyond the six-year limit.

The new legislation introduces an additional exception to the six-year statute of repose. It stipulates that if the cause of the injury or death was concealed by the medical professional or their staff, the six-year limit does not apply. This change aims to ensure that individuals who may have been misled or kept in the dark about the circumstances surrounding their medical malpractice claims have the opportunity to seek justice, even if it exceeds the previously established time frame.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 614.1