SF 189 Iowa Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to medical malpractice by exempting claims involving sexual assault from the limitations on noneconomic damages.

SF 189 modifies Iowa's medical malpractice law to exempt claims involving sexual assault by healthcare providers from limits on noneconomic damages (like compensation for pain and suffering). It directly affects patients who experience sexual assault during medical treatment, regardless of whether the assault was disguised as medical care or the patient believed it was legitimate treatment at the time. The bill removes the standard damage cap when a provider's action is sexual in nature, ensuring victims of such misconduct can seek full compensation for non-economic harms. This change applies specifically to cases where the defendant is a healthcare provider and the alleged misconduct involves sexual conduct.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Feb 4, 2025
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Bousselot, Blake, and Schultz.
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, referred to Judiciary.
upper
12 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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