Iowa Senate Bill 189 removes damage caps for medical malpractice claims involving sexual assault

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

Last action · February 4, 2025: Subcommittee: Bousselot, Blake, and Schultz. S.J. 194 .Sponsors: Janet Petersen and 11 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Would Do

Senate File 189 exempts medical claims involving sexual assault from statutory limits on . The change applies regardless of whether the sexual act occurred under the guise of medical treatment or if the patient believed the act was professionally appropriate at the time.

Why it matters

Patients pursuing civil claims against health care providers for sexual assault can seek unlimited , removing the compensation ceiling currently imposed by state law.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Patients

Directly affected

Health Care Providers

Health care providers facing malpractice claims involving sexual misconduct face potential uncapped liability for noneconomic damages.

Key Facts

Senate File 189 amends section 147.136A, subsection 3, Code 2025.
The limitation on damages shall not apply to a defendant if the defendant's action is sexual in nature.
The exemption applies regardless of whether the act was committed under the auspice of providing professional diagnosis, counseling, or treatment.
The exemption applies regardless of whether the patient believed the act was for medically or professionally appropriate diagnosis, counseling, or treatment at the time it occurred.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Senate File 189 change about medical malpractice lawsuits?

It removes statutory caps on for medical claims where the defendant's actions are sexual in nature.

Does it matter if the patient thought the procedure was legitimate at the time?

No. The bill specifies that the exemption applies regardless of whether the patient believed the act was for medically or professionally appropriate treatment when it occurred.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

2 actions

Feb 4, 2025Senate
Subcommittee: Bousselot, Blake, and Schultz. S.J. 194 .
Feb 3, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, referred to Judiciary. S.J. 177 .

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →