Former JCHC doctor files lawsuit against health center

FAIRFIELD — A former physician at Jefferson County Health Center has filed a lawsuit against Jefferson County Health Center, alleging that he was wrongfully terminated because of complaints he made about patient safety issues at the health center.

Dr. Raheel Jiwan filed a lawsuit in Iowa District Court for Jefferson County alleging that his termination from the health center in August 2022 was done in response to complaints he filed with the Iowa Board of Medicine and Drug Enforcement Administration about other physicians working at the health center.

Dr. Jiwan worked for JCHC from Aug. 20, 2020 until his firing on Aug. 29, 2022. According to the lawsuit filed by his attorney, Stuart L. Higgins of Higgins Law Firm PLLC in Des Moines, Dr. Jiwan raised concerns about patient safety. One of those dealt with hospital policy that required emergency room physicians to be responsible for both emergency department patients and general hospital patients. The lawsuit claims that Dr. Jiwan raised concerns with JCHC CEO Bryan Hunger that hospital patients were being neglected because of the policy.

Dr. Jiwan alleges in the lawsuit that a fellow physician was prescribing what he believed to be “extremely high and alarming amounts of opioids and other controlled substances, including but not limited to benzodiazepines.”

The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Jiwan helped to organize an all-physicians meeting in the health center boardroom on July 14, 2022, where two of the JCHC’s physicians were not invited because they were the subject of complaints. The lawsuit claims that Dr. Jiwan and another physician met with JCHC Board of Trustees Chair Merlin Miller after the meeting to discuss their concerns.

Dr. Jiwan claims in the lawsuit that he was never subjected to any disciplinary actions or warnings before his termination on Aug. 29, 2022. The lawsuit claims he was terminated in retaliation for raising concerns and complaining about patient safety, and reporting them to a licensing board.

The Union reached out to JCHC CEO Bryan Hunger for a response to the lawsuit. Hunger released the following statement:

“Jefferson County Health Center has been notified of Dr. Raheel Jiwan’s lawsuit against JCHC.

“Though we are early in the process, JCHC strongly disagrees with Dr. Jiwan’s claims. JCHC is committed to our values of compassion; integrity; accountability/ownership; service; pride and excellence in all we do to support our valued patients and outstanding team of providers and staff.

“We look forward to sharing our side of the story as this matter proceeds.”

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com