Belle Plaine doctor to stop practicing; other Iowa doctors disciplined

A former Belle Plaine family doctor entered into an agreement with the Iowa Board of Medicine to not treat patients.

Dr. Robert Bischoff, 54, was charged by the board with engaging in a pattern of sexual misconduct, unprofessional conduct and disruptive behavior in the practice of medicine.

The board alleged Bischoff engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a former patient in 2007, and the patient stole his prescription pad to illegally obtain prescription drugs.

The board also alleged that Bischoff made inappropriate sexual advances toward a female co-worker in 2006; he was the subject of a number of complaints from female patients who alleged that he engaged in inappropriate touching and unprofessional comments and he viewed and stored pornographic images on a computer at his office.

The board also alleged that he frequently became angry and yelled at co-workers and other health care providers.

Bischoff completed a comprehensive physical, neuropsychological, mental health, sexual misconduct and substance abuse evaluation in July and the board determined he is not safe to treat patients at this time.

Under the agreement, Bischoff agreed not to treat patients until disciplinary charges are resolved.

The board also took the following action:

• Placed Dr. Lee Fagre, 54, on probation for five years. Fagre, who practices family medicine in Waverly, agreed not to practice obstetrics and must complete a board-approved supervised educational program.
• Filed disciplinary charged against Dr. Henry Snead, 52, of Waterloo. The board charged Snead with violating Iowa law and engaging in unethical or unprofessional conduct in connection with a domestic dispute in which he was charged with assaulting his fiance. A hearing was set for Dec. 16.