Slater Law, LLCWest Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer | Central Iowa Malpractice Attorney2026-06-29T14:57:38Zhttps://www.slaterlaw.net/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1404374/2022/02/cropped-site-identity-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[Surgical errors vs. known risks: When do you have a case in Iowa?]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2547102026-06-29T14:57:38Z2026-06-29T14:57:38ZWhen a complication may point to unsafe care
Some complications happen even when the surgical team acts carefully. A preventable error may involve care below what a reasonably competent provider would have done. Warning signs may include:
Operating on the wrong body part or patient
Leaving a sponge or an instrument inside the body
Missing dangerous changes in vital signs during anesthesia
These events do not automatically prove malpractice, but they can raise serious questions. Records, timing and expert review often help show whether your loved one’s injury came from an accepted risk or unsafe care.
What records can help clarify the timeline
Start with the documents that show what the surgical team planned, did and recorded after the procedure. These may include:
Consent forms that explain the risks discussed before surgery
Operative reports that describe what happened during the procedure
Anesthesia records that track medications, oxygen levels and vital signs
Medication logs and nursing notes that show care before and after surgery
Discharge papers and follow-up instructions that explain your loved one’s recovery plan
Iowa generally gives you two years from when you knew or should have known of the injury to file a claim. Most claims also face a six-year outside limit, with an exception for a foreign object unintentionally left in the body. If expert testimony is needed, Iowa law also requires a certificate of merit affidavit within 60 days after the defendant answers.
Deciding what questions to ask next
After a surgical injury, the first question is not always who is at fault. It is often what information is missing. A professional review can also help you connect medical details, timing and legal deadlines before records become harder to organize.]]>On Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[The “smoking gun” in medical malpractice: How we uncover what hospitals hide]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2547062026-05-08T12:32:09Z2026-05-08T12:30:18ZYour doctor tells you that problems from surgery are normal and sometimes these things just happen. The hospital papers use terms like "standard post-surgery complications" to explain why you got hurt when you should not have. You think something went wrong during your operation but the medical records seem to back up what the hospital says. In Iowa, these cases depend on finding the truth hidden in thousands of pages of medical records.
How does discovery reveal the true story?
The discovery phase of a medical malpractice lawsuit gives your attorney legal tools to dig deep into what actually happened during your care. This phase includes:
Complete medical records: Hospitals must turn over your entire electronic health record including notes, lab results, medication logs and entries that might show conflicting information.
Professional review: Medical professionals who work in the same field review your records to spot deviations from accepted standards of care that general practitioners might miss.
Depositions: Your attorney questions doctors, nurses and hospital staff under oath about their actions and asks them to explain inconsistencies in the records.
Metadata analysis: Electronic health records contain hidden data showing when entries were made, when theywere changed and who accessed your file at what times.
Hospitals sometimes label clear mistakes as normal complications hoping patients will accept this. A deep dive into electronic health records can prove a different timeline than the official narrative suggests.
What detailed record review uncovers
Electronic health records can show medication doses that contradict written notes or reveal that warning signs went ignored for hours. Time stamps might prove nurses took note of vital signs they never actually checked. Missing entries during key periods often indicate chaos or neglect and not routine care. Chart corrections made after a bad outcome can suggest someone tried to cover mistakes.The discovery process levels the playing field between patients and powerful medical institutions. Trusted legal guidance helps patients access the full truth about their medical care. It also helps hold providers responsible for errors disguised as unavoidable complications.
]]>On Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[When a joyful birth turns into lifelong harm]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2547042026-02-26T07:54:02Z2026-02-26T07:54:02ZMost births in Iowa move forward without crisis, yet preventable medical errors that change your child’s future still occur. When oxygen levels drop or delivery complications arise, delayed action may lead to permanent injury. While processing what happened, you may also have questions about accountability and long-term care.
Common preventable birth injuries and their impact
Some birth injuries result from poor monitoring or slow action during labor and delivery. Oxygen deprivation during labor can lead to cerebral palsy, and nerve injuries such as brachial plexus damage may occur due to mishandled difficult deliveries. Substandard care often takes the form of these warning signs:
Delayed response to fetal distress on heart monitors
Failure to order a timely cesarean section
Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors
Inadequate management of shoulder dystocia
Each of these events can cause long-term health consequences. As a result, your family may have to face ongoing therapy costs, adaptive equipment expenses and even home modification bills.
Why seeking legal action matters
When providers fall short, a claim can help cover lifelong medical care. It may also help pay for special education and in-home support. A medical malpractice lawyer can review your child's medical records, work with medical professionals and present proof of negligence to the court. They can also help you comply with the following critical timelines:
Child claims: If the injury happened before age eight, you must file by the child’s 10th birthday or within six years of the malpractice date, whichever comes later.
Parent claims: Parents have two years from when they discovered the injury to sue for their own losses like lost wages or bills.
Statute of repose: Iowa bars most malpractice claims filed more than six years after the error date unless the medical team leaves a foreign object inside the body.
Note that Iowa sets limits on noneconomic damages (pain and suffering) in medical malpractice cases. You can recover up to $2 million from a hospital and up to $1 million from a doctor or clinic.
Protect your child's rights
You cannot undo the past, but you still have ways to protect and plan for your child going forward. Start by consulting a medical malpractice attorney who can discuss your next steps with you. By doing so, you give your child every chance to thrive by fighting for the care they deserve.]]>On Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[Could delaying a C‑section after fetal distress be negligence?]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2547012026-02-05T09:11:40Z2026-02-05T08:55:43ZA baby’s first moments can affect a lifetime of health and development. During labor, medical teams watch the baby’s heart rate to spot signs of trouble. When those monitors show distress, quick action often matters. Even short delays may increase the risk of serious injury. This post explains fetal distress, the timing of emergency C-sections and how Iowa law reviews these situations, using clear and simple language.
Spotting fetal distress on monitors
Hospitals use fetal heart monitors to track a baby’s heart rate during labor. These monitors create printed or digital lines, often called “strips.” Certain changes in these lines may suggest the baby is not getting enough oxygen.Doctors and nurses look at these patterns along with the mother’s contractions and overall condition. When the signs continue or worsen, the care team usually needs to act quickly. Early recognition can help lower the chance of lasting harm.
Understanding the decision-to-incision interval
When doctors decide a C-section is necessary, timing becomes critical. The team measures this period as the decision-to-incision time. It means the time between deciding to operate and starting the surgery.With fetal distress, this window is often short. A baby who lacks oxygen for too long may suffer brain damage. One possible result is Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). HIE can affect movement, learning or behavior later in life. Because these injuries can be severe, the speed of the response often becomes a key issue in medical and legal reviews.
Evaluating the standard of care for emergency C-sections
Medical guidelines often say hospitals should be ready to start an emergency C-section within about 30 minutes after the decision is made. In some urgent cases, doctors may need to move even faster.When reviewing care, the focus is on whether the medical team acted reasonably under the circumstances. Important steps may include:
Watching the heart monitor closely and reading it correctly
Calling in the surgical and anesthesia teams without delay
Getting the operating room ready as quickly as possible
No single rule fits every case. The details of the labor and the hospital’s resources often matter.
Linking delays to potential legal negligence
Not every C-section delay means malpractice. Under Iowa law, an expert review must also show that the delay likely caused the injury. Other factors, such as problems with the placenta or issues that began before labor, may also play a role.Still, when monitors show clear distress and action comes too late, questions may arise. Fetal heart monitor data and delivery records often help explain what happened and why decisions were made.
Reviewing a suspected C-section delay
Families who suspect a delay may start by gathering and reviewing medical records. Medical experts can study the heart monitor strips and notes to build a clear timeline. Legal review then compares that timeline to hospital policies and medical guidelines.This process helps determine whether the injury was unavoidable or linked to a delay in care. While childbirth always carries some risk, careful monitoring and timely action remain important parts of safe delivery care.
Protecting future deliveries
Advances in fetal monitoring continue to improve labor and delivery care. Awareness of distress signals and response times can also support informed discussions after complications arise. Families facing these situations may seek medical and legal guidance tailored to their circumstances to better understand what happened and avoid any medical malpractice situations.]]>On Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[Alarm fatigue can lead to medical workers ignoring a crisis]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2546982026-01-15T11:06:15Z2026-01-24T11:05:06ZAlarm fatigue is a well-documented issue
For many years, researchers evaluating care failures at hospitals and similar facilities have routinely identified alarm fatigue as a serious issue. Patients may require numerous medical devices for their treatment or stabilization.
Those devices may beep or make other alarming and annoying noises over issues as minimal as a single sensor coming loose. Professionals who hear those sounds constantly eventually learn to tune them out to better focus on immediate obligations.
While focusing on individual patients or charts is important, so is a prompt response when machinery sounds the alarm that something has gone wrong with a patient. Ignoring the beeping from a machine trying to alert care providers that a patient's breathing has stopped could be the difference between successfully intervening and the patient developing an anoxic brain injury.
Safety experts have long recommended that manufacturers alter the use of alarms and noises to address alarm fatigue and ensure that health care providers respond appropriately when actual emergencies arise. Sadly, alarm fatigue remains a common issue that compromises the care of patients in a vulnerable state.
When records from hospital machinery show that a patient went into distress or a machine attempted to communicate with professionals about the patient’s need for immediate care, affected patients or families that lost a loved one may potentially have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. After all, medical professionals generally recognize that they need to intervene promptly when patients experience sudden emergencies.
Reviewing the records of what happened in a medical facility with a skilled legal team could help those impacted by professional alarm fatigue take appropriate action. A medical malpractice lawsuit may be possible in cases where more rapid intervention could have produced a better medical outcome.]]>On Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[The end of federal staffing requirement may directly impact older adults]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2546962026-01-15T11:03:42Z2026-01-19T11:02:49Zchanges in federal policy, have diminished the demands placed on nursing homes, which may have dire implications for residents living in those facilities.
Fewer workers mean less support for residents
Adults in nursing homes and similar facilities may need help going to the bathroom or getting dressed. They could be at risk of a fall if they attempt to manage those tasks on their own. Having enough workers on hand helps ensure the security of people in memory wards who struggle with dementia and the overall cleanliness of the facility.
As for-profit nursing homes scale back on staffing due to the lack of federal regulations, residents and their families may notice a noteworthy decline in care standards. Older adults could end up sickened or injured due to understaffing.
Families need to watch for red flags
If there are concerns about the standard of care at a nursing home, family members visiting residents there may need to monitor the situation carefully and document any warning signs of negligent care standards. Checking in late at night and on the weekends, when staff levels are at their lowest, can be helpful.
Some of the most concerning red flags include:
unkempt residents
missed medication doses
dirty facilities
an inability to locate workers
residents wandering without support
call lights and alarms that go unattended to for lengthy periods
unanswered phone calls
Complaints from loved ones can also be indicative of a decline in the care that they receive.
The unfortunate reality is that some older adults may pay the price for the business policies implemented by nursing homes. They could fall, leave the facility without support or develop a preventable infestation or infection due to lack of appropriate sanitation.
When there is clear documentation of substandard care practices and insufficient support, the family members of injured residents and those who die prematurely may have grounds for a nursing home negligence lawsuit. Keeping documentation of safety concerns and securing copies of records regarding individual resident care can potentially help families demand accountability when long-term care providers fail to properly support older adults.]]>On Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[Addressing improper chemical restraint use in memory care wards]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2546942026-01-15T10:58:22Z2026-01-15T10:58:22ZWhat are chemical restraints?
When nursing home workers believe that a resident is either a threat to themselves or to others, they may need to restrict that person's movement. Some facilities use physical restraints, but many turn to chemical restraints instead. Chemical restraints are psychotropic drugs and sedatives administered to keep people calm and compliant. Their overuse can cause significant harm to the residents who receive these drugs unnecessarily.
What are the signs of unnecessary chemical restraints?
Family members visiting an older adult may notice that they do not seem like themselves. They may appear to be in a trance-like state or may seem zombie-like. Sudden changes in mobility or extreme lethargy can also be signs of improper chemical restraints.
How can families respond?
Technically, the administration of psychotropic drugs usually requires informed consent. The patient or the person with the authority to make medical decisions about their care must sign paperwork acknowledging the risks of chemical restraints and approving their use. Even with signed documents, nursing home and memory ward workers should attempt to minimize the use of chemical restraints whenever possible. Administering them because a patient complains or doesn't follow instructions is not a reasonable response.
In scenarios where the excessive use of chemical restraints has resulted in harm to nursing home residents, their family members may have grounds to take legal action. Reviewing records provided by the facility and discussing the case with a legal professional could help families determine if their loved one may have experienced actionable nursing home malpractice due to the excessive use of chemical restraints.]]>On Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[Navigating the system: What happens after a serious medical malpractice injury in Iowa?]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2546922026-01-12T15:04:14Z2026-01-12T15:04:14ZImmediate steps to protect your health and your case
Your health must remain your primary focus. Seek corrective care from an independent physician immediately to prevent further complications. You should also begin gathering evidence to support your future claim. Initial steps include:
Request copies of all medical records, lab results and diagnostic images
Maintain a daily journal of your symptoms and recovery challenges
Save all correspondence from the original health care provider
Collecting these documents early ensures that vital information does not disappear. A detailed paper trail helps link the provider’s actions directly to your current condition.
Understanding the Iowa legal process
Iowa law involves specific hurdles. Generally, you have two years from the date you discovered the injury to file a lawsuit. Iowa also has a "statute of repose," meaning that in most cases, you cannot file a lawsuit more than six years after the error happened. However, if a provider intentionally concealed the mistake from you, this six-year limit might be extended.
Iowa also requires a “certificate of merit affidavit.” Within 60 days of the defendant's answer, a qualified expert must provide a sworn, notarized statement confirming that a breach occurred in the standard of care. While you can typically fix technical errors like a missing notary stamp if caught early, missing the 60-day deadline entirely can result in your case being dismissed permanently.
Proving liability and damages
To win a claim, you must prove the provider breached their duty of care and caused your injuries. In Iowa, you can seek compensation for "economic" damages like medical bills and lost wages, which are not limited.
However, Iowa law now caps noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering. In most cases, the limit is $1 million when suing an individual doctor and $2 million when suing a hospital. However, these limits may not apply if the provider acted with actual malice.
Why experienced legal guidance matters
The Iowa medical malpractice system involves complicated litigation. Managing the state’s intricate requirements requires experienced legal representation to ensure your rights remain protected. Working with a skilled medical malpractice lawyer can allow you to focus entirely on your physical and emotional healing while they handle the complexities of your case.]]>On Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[ What steps can parents take after suspecting a birth injury?]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2546882025-11-12T10:48:00Z2025-11-12T10:48:00ZWhen a birth injury is suspected parents immediately want answers and a plan. These injuries range from immediately noticeable issues during delivery to subtle developmental problems surfacing later. Early signs that suggest a birth injury may include:
Difficulty feeding or swallowing
Excessive fussiness or high-pitched crying
Unusual eye movements or abnormal muscle tone (either very stiff or floppy)
Recognizing these symptoms quickly allows you to take critical proactive steps.
Prioritize medical documentation
Parents must secure all medical records related to the pregnancy labor delivery and your child’s postnatal care. This step gives medical professionals a comprehensive view of the events. You ensure you have a complete and detailed history by collecting these records promptly which is vital for diagnosis and any future action you may choose to take. Do not rely solely on verbal accounts; the written documentation is the most reliable evidence.
Consult a certified physician
Parents must then seek a second opinion from an independent specialist, perhaps a pediatric neurologist or a doctor specializing in the suspected condition. This action provides an unbiased evaluation of your child’s health. The physician can confirm the diagnosis, determine the likely cause of the injury and recommend an effective long-term treatment plan. This independent assessment is crucial for confirming your suspicions.
Understand your time limit
Families in Iowa must promptly investigate the circumstances surrounding the injury. You should know that Iowa law imposes strict time limits called a statute of repose on filing medical malpractice lawsuits. Generally, families must file within six years of the incident. However, if your child was under the age of eight when the alleged malpractice occurred you generally have until their tenth birthday to file a claim. Acting quickly helps you preserve crucial evidence and ensures you meet all applicable deadlines for taking legal action.
Protecting your child’s future
A birth injury can impose significant lifelong costs on a family including extensive medical treatment therapy and specialized care. You need resources to provide your child with the best possible quality of life and necessary support. By taking deliberate timely action and with the proper legal guidance, parents can protect their child’s long-term health and financial stability.
]]>On Behalf of Slater Law, LLC<![CDATA[3 common types of birth injuries that can occur during delivery]]>https://www.slaterlaw.net/?p=2546592025-09-10T10:38:52Z2025-09-10T10:38:52ZNerve injury to the arm
A nerve injury to the arm, known as a brachial plexus injury, can occur when nerves that control the shoulder, arm and hand stretch during birth. For example, this may happen if your baby’s shoulder becomes stuck, a condition called shoulder dystocia.
You may observe weak movement or reduced use of the arm. Therapy can improve function, and in rare cases, specialists may recommend surgery. Medical teams work with you to manage care and track progress.
Broken collarbone at birth
A broken collarbone, or clavicle fracture, ranks among the most common injuries during delivery. It often develops in larger infants or when medical staff use forceps or vacuums to assist in birth. You may notice your baby moving one arm less or feel a firm lump as the bone heals.
Healing usually proceeds quickly, and most infants regain normal movement. Healthcare providers can give you clear instructions for safe handling and comfort.
Swelling on the head
Swelling on the head can result from pressure during delivery. The most common forms are:
Caput succedaneum, a soft swelling that may fade in days
Cephalohematoma, blood beneath the scalp that may last longer
Although these conditions may appear concerning, they often resolve on their own. Medical health providers typically examine swelling closely and can guide you in keeping your baby safe.
What to consider after learning about birth injuries
Nerve injuries to the arm, broken collarbones and head swelling are three common birth injuries you may encounter. When you understand these possibilities, you enter delivery in Iowa with greater preparation and confidence.
If preventable errors play a role in harm to a newborn, some families choose to speak with a legal professional. This step may involve discussing a potential medical malpractice claim.]]>