Iowa medical board takes action against two Cedar Rapids doctors

The Iowa Board of Medicine has taken action against two Cedar Rapids doctors.

Dr. Thomas Getta, 53, an obstetrician/gynecologist, was placed on probation for five years under a settlement agreement.

Dr. Winthrop Risk II, 42, who practices neurology and pain medicine, had formal disciplinary charges filed against him.

The board charged Risk with violating practice standards for appropriate chronic pain management when he prescribed excessive controlled substances.

Those patients included some with known drug abuse histories, according to the board.

Risk's attorney, David L. Brown of Des Moines, said Risk is seeing patients and should continue in the future.

“We're categorically denying that he acted inappropriately,” he said.

The board alleges Risk improperly prescribed narcotics, improperly ordered early refills and failed to perform adequate patient evaluations, establish appropriate treatment plans, perform appropriate periodic review and maintain adequate documentation.

A hearing was set for Sept. 10.

Getta, who practiced in Eastern Iowa for 24 years before opening a solo practice, Women's Healthcare, P.C., in 2008, had been charged over concerns about complications of seven Caesarean sections between May 2005 and September 2006, and management of nine obstetric cases between March 2005 and July 2007.

Under the agreement, Getta received a public reprimand. His five-year probation is subject to board monitoring.

Getta who was seeing patients Thursday, said none of his privileges were revoked.

He said he went through a difficult time after his wife died in 2000, including experiencing sleeping problems, which carried over to his work.

Getta said he stopped delivering babies for a time, but will start again.

“I feel very confident about the future,” he said.