Board suspends license of physician assistant charged with sexual assault

Yahoo

06-05-2025

Bluebell Road Health Plaza in Cedar Falls. (Photo via Google Earth)
The Iowa Board of Physician Assistants has suspended the license of a practitioner who is currently facing multiple criminal charges alleging he sexually assaulted female patients.
Late last year, the board issued an emergency order suspending the license of James Haag, who was practicing occupational medicine at MercyOne's Bluebell Road Family Medicine in Cedar Falls. As part of his work there, Haag performed job-related physicals for individuals who worked at a local business.
The board alleges that in July 2024, Haag examined four patients for purposes of their employment. In each case, the patients were allegedly instructed to disrobe and Haag conducted the initial portion of the exams without the presence of a nurse or other observer.
During the course of each examination, the board alleges, Haag removed each patient's robe and 'made physical contact' with the patients' genitals. In some instances, the board alleges, he used his hands, while in others he 'pressed his fully clothed pelvic area into the patient's genitals or backside.'
The board alleges Haag also made 'inappropriate contact with multiple patients' breasts' during the course of their examinations. 'In multiple instances, where the patients attempted to cover themselves, (Haag) swatted their hands away,' the board alleges.
Haag was charged by the board with knowingly engaging in unethical conduct or a practice harmful or detrimental to the public, and with willful or repeated violations of state regulations.
In issuing its emergency order, the board cited Haag's 'predatory actions towards his patients (that) constitute a threat to public health.' In its order, the board alleged Haag 'sexually assaulted multiple patients in his care' and that he posed 'an immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare.'
Earlier this year, Haag was criminally charged in connection with the alleged assaults. He is currently facing two counts of sexual abuse, two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, and three counts of simple assault.
Haag has pleaded not guilty, and a trial is scheduled for Sept. 30, 2025.
When a board investigator asked Haag about the allegations, the board says, Haag replied with one word: 'Lies.' He denied all of the allegations, including touching the women's breasts, pushing their hands away when they tried to hold their gowns closed or retie their gowns, and touching the women's vaginal area.
Board records indicate it is MercyOne's policy that clinic patients disrobe and wear a gown during employment physicals, but are allowed to wear bras, underwear and socks underneath the gown.
Board: 'Haag used his position of power'
At a February hearing on the licensing board charges, Haag testified that he always requests a chaperone be in the room during a female hernia exam for his own 'protection' since the procedure involves touching a woman's lower pelvic area.
Board records indicate that after one employee of Cedar Stone Senior Living in Cedar Falls had an employment physical performed by Haag, she called a colleague in tears, stating that she believed she had been sexually assaulted.
The colleague also received an employment physical from Haag and later told a co-worker that she, too, felt she had been sexually assaulted.
Eventually, two Cedar Falls police officers spoke to the women. Cedar Stone Senior Living then asked all of its employees to report whether they had experienced anything unusual during their exams. Two additional women came forward, saying they felt uncomfortable or violated during their physicals by Haag.
Hearing testimony indicated that while a chaperone entered the room during the four women's physicals, it was typically after Haag had already performed the portion of the exam that was most concerning to the women.
The board concluded that the four women were credible and consistent in their allegations.
As for Haag, the board said that 'by his own admission, Haag spent several minutes alone in an exam room with female patients' prior to requesting a chaperone's presence.
'It is not lost on the board that Haag's meticulous documentation of a chaperone's presence is in stark contrast to his careless documentation of a medical exam itself,' the board noted in its ruling. 'Haag testified about his careless approach to documenting a physical, stating that he at times checks a box on a medical form indicating that he has performed a certain part of a medical exam even though he has not. Haag also received low marks on performance evaluations for his documentation practices. On the other hand, Haag was meticulous about obtaining chaperone signatures on his medical forms, even writing the word 'chaperone' next to a signature if the chaperone forgot to write it herself.'
Having determined that Haag had inappropriately touched the four patients, the board concluded Haag's conduct was unethical and warranted a three-year suspension of his license.
'Haag used his position of power as a medical professional to inappropriately touch vulnerable female patients, patients that were required to undergo a physical in order to maintain employment,' the board stated in its ruling.
Prior to any reinstatement of his physician assistant's license, Haag will have to undergo a clinical competence assessment at the Center of Personalized Education for Professionals.