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Prescription Practices Called into Question: Iowa Court Applies Four-Factor Test to Physician’s Defamation Claim Based on Report to State Medical Board Friday, July 30, 2021
The Supreme Court of Iowa recently reversed the judgment of a district court and remanded the matter with instructions to enter summary judgment in favor of Hamilton County Public Hospital, operating as Van Diest Medical Center (the “Hospital”). The Supreme Court found that the Hospital’s alleged defamatory statements to the Iowa Board of Medicine (“IBM”) concerning Dr. Mark Andrew were nonactionable opinions even though some of the Hospital’s statements implied criminal conduct.
Investigation of Dr. Andrew’s Prescription Practices
An Iowa hospital did not defame a surgeon when it reported concerns about his prescriptions for addictive painkillers, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday.
Dr. Mark Andrew was fired in 2016 from the Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City, according to the Supreme Court ruling. Before he was fired, the hospital s chief executive officer had raised several concerns, including about his productivity and about his treatment of a surgical patient.
Hospital officials began looking into Andrew s treatment of the patient after a local pharmacy alerted them to issues with the man s prescriptions for addictive painkillers, the ruling says. Over four years, Andrew had prescribed nearly 12,000 Vicodin pills to the patient, who underwent testicular removal surgery, the ruling says.
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A personalized plate is key to a good diet
March is National Nutrition Month and a dietician in north-central Iowa says it’s vital to make healthy choices every day.
Kristi Zwiefel, with Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City, says it doesn’t have to be a challenge to find a variety of tasty foods that are also good for you.
“Basically, having fruits and vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy in your diet,” Zwiefel says. “It’s important to learn those habits early on. It’s important to eat healthy so we can prevent diseases and chronic illnesses later down the road. It’s never too early to start and it’s never too late to start either.”
-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Van Diest Medical Center paramedic Matt McColley testified Friday to his role at the scene of Zackery Bassett’s apartment in September 2018, where he applied cricoid pressure to victim Andrea Sokolowski’s throat to attempt to intubate her during resuscitation efforts. Medical personnel have testified that her throat was so swollen that they could not properly intubate her. -Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Defendant Zackery Bassett watches a bodycam recording from a Webster City officer who responded to his 911 call in September 2018. Andrea Sokolowski, transported from that scene, was declared dead later that evening at Van Diest Medical Center after paramedics and medical personnel attempted resuscitation.