Iowa Code § 229.15 — IA Code / Title VI / Chapter 229 / Section 229.15
Periodic reports required.
Status: in_force

(1) Not more than thirty days after entry of an order for continued hospitalization of a patient under section 229.14, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, and thereafter at successive intervals of not more than sixty days continuing so long as involuntary hospitalization of the patient continues, the chief medical officer of the hospital shall report to the court which entered the order. The report shall be submitted in the manner required by section 229.14, shall state whether the patient’s condition has improved, remains unchanged, or has deteriorated, and shall indicate if possible the further length of time the patient will be required to remain at the hospital. The chief medical officer may at any time report to the court a finding as stated in section 229.14, subsection 1, and the court shall act upon the finding as required by section 229.14, subsection 2.

(2) Not more than sixty days after the entry of a court order for treatment of a patient pursuant to a report issued under section 229.14, subsection 1, paragraph “c”, and thereafter at successive intervals as ordered by the court but not to exceed ninety days so long as that court order remains in effect, the medical director of the facility or the psychiatrist or psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner treating the patient shall report to the court which entered the order. The report shall state whether the patient’s condition has improved, remains unchanged, or has deteriorated, and shall indicate if possible the further length of time the patient will require treatment by the facility. If at any time the patient without good cause fails or refuses to submit to treatment as ordered by the court, the medical director shall at once so notify the court, which shall order the patient hospitalized as provided by section 229.14, subsection 2, paragraph “d”, unless the court finds that the failure or refusal was with good cause and that the patient is willing to receive treatment as provided in the court’s order, or in a revised order if the court sees fit to enter one. If at any time the medical director reports to the court that in the director’s opinion the patient requires full-time custody, care, and treatment in a hospital, and the patient is willing to be admitted voluntarily to the hospital for these purposes, the court may enter an order approving hospitalization for appropriate treatment upon consultation with the chief medical officer of the hospital in which the patient is to be hospitalized. If the patient is unwilling to be admitted voluntarily to the hospital, the procedure for determining involuntary hospitalization, as set out in section 229.14, subsection 2, paragraph “d”, shall be followed.

(3) (a) A psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner treating a patient previously hospitalized under this chapter may complete periodic reports pursuant to this section on the patient if the patient has been recommended for treatment on an outpatient or other appropriate basis pursuant to section 229.14, subsection 1, paragraph “c”.

(3) (b) An advanced registered nurse practitioner who is not certified as a psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner but who meets the qualifications set forth in the definition of a mental health professional in section 228.1, may complete periodic reports pursuant to paragraph “a”.

(4) When a patient has been placed in an alternative facility other than a hospital pursuant to a report issued under section 229.14, subsection 1, paragraph “d”, a report on the patient’s condition and prognosis shall be made to the court which placed the patient, at least once every six months, unless the court authorizes annual reports.

(5) (a) When in the opinion of the chief medical officer the best interest of a patient would be served by a convalescent or limited leave, the chief medical officer may authorize the leave and, if authorized, shall promptly report the leave to the court. When in the opinion of the chief medical officer the best interest of a patient would be served by a transfer to a different hospital for continued full-time custody, care, and treatment, the chief medical officer shall promptly send a report to the court. The court shall act upon the report in accordance with section 229.14A.

(5) (b) This subsection shall not be construed to add to or restrict the authority otherwise provided by law for transfer of patients or residents among various state institutions administered by the department. If a patient is transferred under this subsection, the treatment provider to whom the patient is transferred shall be provided with copies of relevant court orders by the former treatment provider.

(6) Upon receipt of any report required or authorized by this section the court shall furnish a copy to the patient’s attorney, or alternatively to the advocate appointed as required by section 229.19. The court shall examine the report and take the action thereon which it deems appropriate. Should the court fail to receive any report required by this section or section 229.14 at the time the report is due, the court shall investigate the reason for the failure to report and take whatever action may be necessary in the matter.

[C77, 79, 81, §229.15; 81 Acts, ch 78, §20, 37; 82 Acts, ch 1228, §2]83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 92 Acts, ch 1165, §5; 2000 Acts, ch 1112, §38; 2001 Acts, ch 155, §34, 35; 2008 Acts, ch 1082, §5, 6; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §85; 2011 Acts, ch 121, §53, 62; 2013 Acts, ch 90, §53; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §523; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §84, 137