This bill amends the statute of repose for medical malpractice claims in Iowa, specifically addressing the time limits for bringing such claims. Under current law, claimants must file their medical malpractice actions within two years of discovering 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 to the six-year statute of repose for cases involving a foreign object unintentionally left in the body.

The new legislation introduces an additional exception to the six-year statute of repose. It states 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 victims of medical malpractice who may not have been aware of the cause of their injuries due to concealment can still seek justice beyond the previous time constraints.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 614.1