Hospitals, physicians, and other licensed health care
professionals shall provide to the department of public health clinical records
pertinent to the review of individual maternal deaths. The release of these
materials is a confidential and privileged communication, and no liability
shall be attached to the release. Neither the released information nor reports
generated from that information shall be allowed in any legal proceedings,
pursuant to Iowa Code section
135.42. The
department of public health shall ensure a timely, confidential review of all
maternal deaths by experts in obstetric medicine and maternal mortality for the
purpose of reducing morbidity and mortality. At least every three years, the
department shall issue occasional reports on the causes and contributing
factors of maternal deaths and recommendations of possible preventive
strategies based on those reviews.