One Iowa doctor charged with incompetence, another with ‘extreme rudeness’

The Iowa Board of Medicine has placed on probation the license of a physician accused of incompetence and issued a warning to another doctor accused of “extreme rudeness.”

Recently, the board charged 39-year-old Dr. Chinedu G. Ifejiagwa of Newton with professional incompetence for failing to exercise the degree of care expected of a physician, and with failing to report disciplinary action by a hospital.

The board alleges that in August 2022, a hospital the board has opted not to identify issued an emergency suspension of Ifejiagwa’s clinical privileges. Ifejiagwa later resigned from his position, which the board has not disclosed, at the hospital. According to the board, he then failed to disclose that suspension to the board.

The Board of Medicine has not publicly disclosed any information related to the charges of professional incompetence and, as part of a settlement agreement with Ifejiagwa, the board agreed to dismiss that charge.

As part of that same settlement agreement, Ifejiagwa agreed to have his license placed on probation for two years and submit to a clinical competency assessment.

Dubuque doctor faces second round of sanctions

The Board of Medicine also recently charged Dr. Barry J. Waack, an Iowa-licensed, family-practice physician from Dubuque, with unprofessional conduct.

The board alleged that Waack demonstrated “extreme rudeness” and exhibited dismissive behavior directed toward a patient and a nurse. The board has opted not to disclose when or where the alleged conduct took place.

To resolve the case, Waack agreed to a settlement that called for him to accept a warning from the board.

In 2018, Waack entered into settlement with the board that called for him to pay a $5,000 civil penalty, complete educational training on professional boundaries, and have his license placed on probation for three years.

That case stemmed from allegations that Waack violated professional boundaries, engaged in improper prescribing and established an inappropriate relationship with a patient. The board alleged Waack prescribed multiple medications for a subordinate female colleague with whom he was having a sexual relationship.

Waack is currently a defendant in a medical malpractice case brought by the family of Phillip French of Dubuque. According to the lawsuit, Waack saw French in the emergency room at UnityPoint Health’s Finley Hospital in Dubuque on Aug. 27, 2022. The lawsuit alleges Waack negligently failed to perform a complete examination of French and order the appropriate tests, and that French died two days later.

Waack and the hospital have denied any wrongdoing, and a trial is now scheduled for Oct. 13, 2026.

This article first appeared in Iowa Capital Dispatch.