Medical Malpractice at
Iowa City VA Medical Center

The Iowa City VA Medical Center serves as a critical healthcare facility for veterans across eastern Iowa, western Illinois, and northern Missouri. The Iowa City VA Medical Center serves over 184,000 veterans, offering comprehensive medical services such as emergency care, specialized surgery, cardiology, and mental health treatment through its affiliation with the University of Iowa College of Medicine.

While most veterans receive appropriate care at this facility, medical mistakes and negligence can occur even at established institutions. Veterans harmed by substandard medical care at the Iowa City VA Medical Center have legal rights under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) to seek compensation for their injuries.

Our firm's founder, a licensed attorney and medical doctor, offers unique medical-legal expertise in VA malpractice cases. With over 25 years handling FTCA claims and more than $145 million recovered for veterans, we understand how to prove medical negligence within the VA system.

Established in 1952, the Iowa City VA Medical Center operates as a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. Located at 601 Highway 6 West in Iowa City, this medical center provides primary and specialty care to veterans across a tri-state region.

The facility offers a full range of medical services including emergency care, surgical procedures, cardiology, oncology, mental health treatment, and rehabilitation services. Specialized programs include comprehensive women's health services, though maternity care is provided through community partnerships. The medical center maintains active medical residency programs, contributing to veteran healthcare while training the next generation of physicians.

Under the leadership of Director Darwin Goodspeed and Chief of Staff Dr. Michael Carlon, the Iowa City VA Medical Center serves as a crucial component of the VA healthcare network in Iowa. Through its University of Iowa affiliation, the facility delivers advanced medical care and supports vital research and education programs.

• Surgical Errors: Given the facility's role in providing various surgical procedures, errors can occur during pre-operative planning, during surgery, or in post-operative care. Common issues include wrong-site surgery, retained surgical items, and post-surgical infections. Learn more about surgical error claims in Iowa →

• Emergency Room Mistakes: The 24/7 emergency department handles urgent veteran care, but rushed diagnoses and inadequate triage can lead to serious complications. Delayed treatment of heart attacks, strokes, and other critical conditions can have devastating consequences. Learn more about emergency room error claims →

• Diagnostic Errors: Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, particularly in specialties like cardiology and oncology, can result in missed treatment opportunities and worsened conditions. These errors often stem from rushed appointments or inadequate follow-up. Learn more about misdiagnosis claims →

• Medication Errors: Mistakes in prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications can cause serious harm. VA pharmacy systems and multiple providers can increase the risk of dangerous drug interactions or incorrect dosing.

Under the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. § 2675), veterans must first file an administrative claim before pursuing a lawsuit for medical malpractice at the Iowa City VA Medical Center. This process begins by submitting Standard Form 95 (SF-95) to the Department of Veterans Affairs, detailing the negligent care and resulting damages.

The claim must be filed with the VA Regional Counsel office responsible for Iowa City VA Medical Center. The administrative claim must include documentation supporting both the allegation of negligence and the extent of damages sought. Our firm's medical professionals can help gather and analyze these critical medical records.

Veterans must file their administrative claim within two years of discovering their injury. Once filed, the VA has six months to investigate and respond to the claim. If the VA denies the claim or fails to resolve it within six months, veterans have six months to file a federal lawsuit.

For complete step-by-step instructions, see our comprehensive guide: How to File a VA Medical Malpractice Claim in Iowa →

FTCA claims follow federal deadlines, though Iowa state law sets a two-year statute of limitations (Iowa Code § 614.1(9)). Iowa does not impose damage caps on medical malpractice awards, which can affect the compensation available in FTCA claims against the Iowa City VA Medical Center.

We also handle medical malpractice cases at these Iowa facilities:

• Des Moines VA Medical Center (Des Moines) →

If you've experienced medical negligence at the Iowa City VA Medical Center, you need to understand your rights under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). This special law allows veterans and their families to seek compensation when harmed by negligent medical care at VA facilities, but the process has strict deadlines and requirements you must follow.

You have two years from the date of injury or when you reasonably should have discovered the injury to file an administrative claim using Standard Form 95. This is filed directly with the VA, and they have six months to investigate and respond to your claim. Only after this administrative process can you file a lawsuit in federal court, if necessary. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your claim, so it's crucial to act promptly.

When dealing with VA medical malpractice cases, having an attorney who is also a medical doctor can be invaluable. These specialized professionals can quickly identify deviations from the standard of care, understand complex medical records, and effectively communicate with VA medical experts. At the Iowa City VA Medical Center specifically, cases often involve multiple departments and complicated medical issues that require both legal and medical expertise to properly evaluate and present.

Through an FTCA claim, you may be entitled to recover various damages, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering. For veterans, this can include additional medical care costs, rehabilitation expenses, and any necessary modifications to your home or lifestyle due to the injury. Family members may also be entitled to compensation for loss of support and companionship.

If you believe you've been harmed by negligent medical care at the Iowa City VA Medical Center, you should consider having your case evaluated by a qualified attorney-physician. Most experienced FTCA attorneys offer free initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless they win your case. During this evaluation, they can review your medical records, assess the strength of your claim, and help you understand your legal options under the FTCA. Don't let uncertainty about the process prevent you from seeking the compensation you deserve - reach out to learn more about your rights.

We handle various types of VA and military medical malpractice cases in Iowa:

• Iowa Surgical Errors Cases →
• Iowa Emergency Room Errors Cases →
• Iowa Brain Injury Cases →
• Iowa Spinal Cord Injury Cases →
• Iowa Misdiagnosis Cases →
• Iowa Medication Errors Cases →