Iowa Code » Chapter 229 — HOSPITALIZATION OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 229.14 (2026)

Chief medical officer’s report

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. The chief medical officer’s report to the court on the psychiatric evaluation of the respondent shall be made not later than the expiration of the time specified in section 229.13. At least two copies of the report shall be filed with the clerk, who shall dispose of them in the manner prescribed by section 229.10, subsection 2. The report shall state one of the four following alternative findings:

a. That the respondent does not, as of the date of the report, require further treatment for serious mental impairment. If the report so states, the court shall order the respondent’s immediate release from involuntary hospitalization and terminate the proceedings.

b. That the respondent is seriously mentally impaired and in need of full-time custody, care and inpatient treatment in a hospital, and is considered likely to benefit from treatment. The report shall include the chief medical officer’s recommendation for further treatment.

c. That the respondent is seriously mentally impaired and in need of treatment, but does not require full-time hospitalization. If the report so states, it shall include the chief medical officer’s recommendation for treatment of the respondent on an outpatient or other appropriate basis.

d. The respondent is seriously mentally impaired and in need of full-time custody and care, but is unlikely to benefit from further inpatient treatment in a hospital. The report shall include the chief medical officer’s recommendation for an appropriate alternative placement for the respondent.

2. Following receipt of the chief medical officer’s report under subsection 1, paragraph “b”, “c”, or “d”, the court shall issue an order for appropriate treatment as follows:

a. For a respondent whose expenses are payable in whole or in part by an administrative services organization, placement as designated by an administrative services organization in the care of an appropriate hospital or facility on an inpatient or outpatient basis, or other appropriate treatment, or in an appropriate alternative placement.

b. For any other respondent, placement in the care of an appropriate hospital or facility on an inpatient or outpatient basis, or other appropriate treatment, or an appropriate alternative placement.

c. For a respondent who is an inmate in the custody of the department of corrections, the court may order the respondent to receive mental health services in a correctional program.

d. If the court orders treatment of the respondent on an outpatient or other appropriate basis as described in the chief medical officer’s report pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph “c”, the order shall provide that, should the respondent fail or refuse to submit to treatment in accordance with the court’s order, the court may order that the respondent be taken into immediate custody as provided by section 229.11 and, following notice and hearing held in accordance with the procedures of section 229.12, may order the respondent treated on an inpatient basis requiring full-time custody, care, and treatment in a hospital until such time as the chief medical officer reports that the respondent does not require further treatment for\n\nTue Dec 09 22:21:30 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 229 (47, 1) 13 HOSPITALIZATION OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, §229.14A\n\nserious mental impairment or has indicated the respondent is willing to submit to treatment on another basis as ordered by the court. If a patient is transferred for treatment to another provider under this paragraph, the treatment provider who will be providing the outpatient or other appropriate treatment shall be provided with copies of relevant court orders by the former treatment provider.

e. (1) If the court orders placement and treatment of a respondent on an inpatient basis under this section, the court may order the respondent placed under the care of an appropriate subacute care facility licensed under chapter 135G.

(2) If the court orders placement and treatment of a minor respondent on an inpatient basis under this section, the court may order the minor respondent placed under the care of an appropriate public hospital. [C77, 79, 81, §229.14; 82 Acts, ch 1228, §1] 90 Acts, ch 1020, §4; 91 Acts, ch 219, §2; 92 Acts, ch 1165, §4; 2001 Acts, ch 155, §31; 2002 Acts, ch 1119, §32; 2004 Acts, ch 1090, §33; 2015 Acts, ch 61, §3; 2015 Acts, ch 69, §65; 2015 Acts, ch 138, §35, 161, 162; 2016 Acts, ch 1073, §79; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §82, 137; 2025 Acts, ch 86, §13 Referred to in §218.92, 222.7, 225.15, 225.17, 225.27, 226.26, 226.31, 226.33, 229.1, 229.14A, 229.14B, 229.15, 229.16, 229.17, 229.19, 229.21, 229.23, 229.26, 229.27, 229.28, 229.38, 229.44 2024 amendment to subsection 2, paragraph a effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §137 Subsection 2, paragraphs a and e amended \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1980–2024 · leading case: B.A.A. v. Chief Med. Officer, Univ. of Iowa Hospitals, 421 N.W.2d 118 (Iowa 1988).
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B.A.A. v. Chief Med. Officer, Univ. of Iowa Hospitals, 421 N.W.2d 118 (Iowa 1988). · cites it 9× “, Iowa Code §§ 229.14 , 229.16. If the legislature’s goal to ensure constitutionality of its commitment standard is to be realized, we have no choice but to require a finding of dangerousness whenever involuntary hospitalization or treatment is called into question in a section…”
Matter of Oseing, 296 N.W.2d 797 (Iowa 1980). · cites it 4× “Section 229.14(4) requires the chief medical officer of the hospital to recommend to the court an alternative placement for such persons.”
In Re Melodie L., 591 N.W.2d 4 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 5× “Iowa Code § 229.14 . In each instance, the court is required to enter an order which may terminate the proceeding or approve the necessary treatment.”
Leonard v. State, 491 N.W.2d 508 (Iowa 1992). · cites it 2× “4(6) (giving patient right to least restrictive conditions necessary to achieve treatment objectives). Such a decision necessarily requires the psychiatrist to forecast the patient’s likely behavior toward others upon release.”
United States v. B.H., 466 F. Supp. 2d 1139 (N.D. Iowa 2006). · cites it 4× “4 (Iowa 1988) (quoting Iowa Code § 229.14 ); accord Lappe v. Loeffelholz, 815 F.”
In the Matter of M.A., Alleged to Be Seriously Mentally Impaired, M.A., 895 N.W.2d 477 (Iowa Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “13 (evaluation order) or section 229.14 (following report of chief medical officer)).”
In re T.C.F., 400 N.W.2d 544 (Iowa 1987). · cites it 4× “Iowa Code § 229.14 . At the hearing in the present case, two psychiatrists testified.”
Jasper Cnty. v. McCall, 420 N.W.2d 801 (Iowa 1988). · cites it 2× “Nowhere in chapter 229 is either “other suitable facility” or “alternative placement” defined. Section 229.23 seems to expressly recognize the minimum requirements defined in Youngberg v.”
Salcido Ex Rel. Gilliland v. Woodbury Cnty., Iowa, 119 F. Supp. 2d 900 (N.D. Iowa 2000). · cites it 34× “14 (2) (the chief medical officer’s report to the hospital referee on the psychiatric evaluation shall state, as one alternative, “[t]hat the respondent is seriously mentally impaired and in need of full-time custody, care and treatment in a hospital, and is considered likely to…”
In re R.M.P., 521 N.W.2d 765 (Iowa Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “13 or section 229.14 [[Image here]] Appellant was committed to the Cherokee Mental Health institute pursuant to Iowa Code section 229.”
C.R. v. Adams, 649 F.2d 625 (8th Cir. 1981). “Section 229.14(3) reads, in part: The order [that the respondent is seriously mentally impaired and in need of treatment, but does not require full-time hospitalization] shall provide that if the re *629 spondent fails or refuses to submit to treatment as directed by the court’s…”
Matter of TCF, 400 N.W.2d 544 (Iowa 1987). · cites it 4× “Iowa Code § 229.14 . At the hearing in the present case, two psychiatrists testified.”
Show all 16 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 229.14(2) — 1 case
B.A.A. v. Chief Med. Officer, Univ. of Iowa Hospitals, 421 N.W.2d 118 (Iowa 1988). “, Iowa Code §§ 229.14 , 229.16. If the legislature’s goal to ensure constitutionality of its commitment standard is to be realized, we have no choice but to require a finding of dangerousness whenever involuntary hospitalization or treatment is called into question in a section…”
— Iowa Code § 229.14(2)(d) — 1 case
In the Matter of S.S., Alleged to Be Seriously Mentally Impaired (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
— Iowa Code § 229.14(3) — 1 case
In Re Melodie L., 591 N.W.2d 4 (Iowa 1999). “Iowa Code § 229.14 . In each instance, the court is required to enter an order which may terminate the proceeding or approve the necessary treatment.”
— Iowa Code § 229.14(4) — 2 cases
Matter of Oseing, 296 N.W.2d 797 (Iowa 1980). “Section 229.14(4) requires the chief medical officer of the hospital to recommend to the court an alternative placement for such persons.”
Salcido Ex Rel. Gilliland v. Woodbury Cnty., Iowa, 119 F. Supp. 2d 900 (N.D. Iowa 2000). “14 (2) (the chief medical officer’s report to the hospital referee on the psychiatric evaluation shall state, as one alternative, “[t]hat the respondent is seriously mentally impaired and in need of full-time custody, care and treatment in a hospital, and is considered likely to…”
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