(State) In four separate disciplinary cases, the state Board of Medicine has charged Iowa physicians with several regulatory violations, including incompetence, removing the wrong ovary from a patient, sexual harassment and failure to meet professional standards.
One of the four cases pertains to Dr. Carol L. McIntyre of Clarinda, who has been charged by the board with performing surgery at the anatomically incorrect site, engaging in unethical or unprofessional conduct, and indiscriminately or promiscuously prescribing drugs to a member of her immediate family.
The board alleges that in May 2022, McIntyre performed surgery on a patient at Clarinda Regional Health Center, intending to remove the woman’s left ovary where a cyst had been found. According to the board, McIntyre later confirmed that while in surgery she mistakenly removed the patient’s right ovary instead of the left one, stating that she “just got confused.”
The board also alleges McIntyre has been “dismissive and condescending to her patients and (has) lacked compassion in treating her patients.” The board claims McIntyre was once “loud and disrespectful” toward a patient, telling the patient to reschedule an appointment because she was late when, in fact, the patient was 15 minutes early for her scheduled appointment.
The board also alleges that while working at Clarinda Regional Health Center, McIntyre saw her daughter and prescribed controlled substances for her.
The board has fined McIntyre $5,000 and issued her a warning indicating future violations could result in additional sanctions. The board has imposed no restrictions on McIntyre’s ability to practice.
Court records indicate the patient in the ovary-removal case is Sarah Kurz of Missouri. In 2024, Kurz sued McIntyre and Clarinda Regional Health Center for alleged negligence. In response, McIntyre admitted removing Kurz’s right ovary, but denied any wrongdoing and asserted that any of the damages claimed by Kurz were the result of a preexisting medical condition.
A trial is scheduled for September 2026.
Sanctions against other physicians
The other Iowa physicians recently sanctioned by the board include:
— Dr. Jose Figueroa of Des Moines, who was charged by the board with sexual harassment and unprofessional conduct based on allegations that date back 12 years. The board alleges that in 2013, while performing “a manipulation technique” on a patient, Figueroa made contact that the patient that was perceived to be of a sexual nature, and his employer directed him to stop using that specific technique.
In 2017, Figueroa allegedly made comments about a student’s appearance that made the student – whom Figueroa was also treating as a patient — feel uncomfortable. Also in 2017, a patient complained about Figueroa’s use of a technique that was similar to that used in the 2013 incident.
In 2021, a female coworker reported that Figueroa crossed personal and professional boundaries through close physical proximity, gestures and inappropriate comments regarding her physical appearance. The board has placed Figueroa’s license on probation for two years and required him to have a chaperone present for all female patient examinations, treatment, procedures, or consultations. Figueroa has also been fined $5,000.
— Dr. Case Everett of Ottumwa, who has been charged by the board with professional incompetence for failure to exercise in a substantial respect that degree of care which is ordinarily exercised by the average physician. According to the board, Everett was proctoring another physician in September 2021 when he failed to “determine or otherwise push the proctored physician to determine” that a patient needed a C-section due to the fetal heart tones displayed on a heart-rate monitor. The publicly available board documents give no indication as to the outcome of the patient’s case.
Everett and the board recently settled the case with the board stipulating that Everett “may not engage in the practice of obstetrics under his Iowa medical license.” The restriction does not prohibit him from treating patients during pregnancy or post-partum as part of his family medicine practice, and it does not prohibit him from assisting an obstetrician with deliveries or providing obstetric services in “emergency situations.” Everett can apply to have the restriction lifted after completing a one-year obstetrics fellowship at a program recognized by the Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics.
— Dr. Andrew Epstein, who is licensed to practice in Iowa and 21 other states and has worked as a telehealth provider in recent years. According to the board, North Carolina concluded more than a year ago that Epstein had inappropriately prescribed ketamine to telehealth patients in contravention of acceptable, standard medical practices.
Specifically, the North Carolina Board of Medicine concluded that for four separate telehealth patients, Epstein failed to conduct urine drug screens or physical examinations before prescribing ketamine, and failed to ensure protocols were in place regarding patient monitoring. On Jan. 4, 2024, the North Carolina board reprimanded Epstein and restricted him from prescribing ketamine to patients. On Dec. 1, 2024, the North Carolina board reinstated Epstein’s ability to prescribe ketamine. Earlier this month, the Iowa board issued Epstein a warning that any future violations could result in sanctions.
