The bill amends Iowa's medical malpractice statute of repose, specifically section 614.1, subsection 9, paragraph a. 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 to the six-year statute of repose for cases involving a foreign object unintentionally left in the body.

The proposed changes introduce an additional exception to the six-year statute of repose. If the injury or death was concealed from the claimant by the medical professional or their staff, the six-year limit would not apply. This amendment aims to ensure that victims of medical malpractice who were misled or kept in the dark about the cause of their injuries have the opportunity to seek justice, even if the six-year period has elapsed.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 614.1