135C.37 - COMPLAINTS ALLEGING VIOLATIONS -- CONFIDENTIALITY.
135C.37 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING VIOLATIONS --
CONFIDENTIALITY.
A person may request an inspection of a health care facility by
filing with the department, resident advocate committee of the
facility, or the long-term care resident's advocate as established
pursuant to section 231.42, a complaint of an alleged violation of
applicable requirements of this chapter or the rules adopted pursuant
to this chapter. A person alleging abuse or neglect of a resident
with a developmental disability or with mental illness may also file
a complaint with the protection and advocacy agency designated
pursuant to section 135B.9 or section 135C.2. A copy of a complaint
filed with the resident advocate committee or the long-term care
resident's advocate shall be forwarded to the department. The
complaint shall state in a reasonably specific manner the basis of
the complaint, and a statement of the nature of the complaint shall
be delivered to the facility involved at the time of the inspection.
The name of the person who files a complaint with the department,
resident advocate committee, or the long-term care resident's
advocate shall be kept confidential and shall not be subject to
discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for its
release to a person other than department employees involved in the
investigation of the complaint. Section History: Early Form
[C77, 79, 81, § 135C.37] Section History: Recent Form
84 Acts, ch 1227, § 3; 85 Acts, ch 186, § 2; 89 Acts, ch 241, § 3;
89 Acts, ch 321, § 28; 91 Acts, ch 107, §4; 99 Acts, ch 129, §6; 2005
Acts, ch 45, §1
Referred to in § 135C.38, 135C.40, 135C.46, 135C.48