Doctor asks court to block licensing board from issuing disciplinary decision

In a case that could have far-reaching implications for Iowa’s licensing boards, a physician is asking the Iowa Supreme Court to block the state’s Board of Medicine from issuing a decision in her disciplinary case.

The physician is alleging the board didn’t have probable cause to investigate her conduct and instead attempted to “dig up” information to justify disciplinary charges it filed in March.

The dispute dates back to March 19, 2026, when the board charged Dr. Mona Alqulali of Clinton with improper management of medical records and improper prescribing of controlled substances to members of her immediate family.

The board alleged Alqulali had prescribed controlled substances to her father on several occasions without conducting an examination and without maintaining the required documentation, and that she also administered and dispensed unauthorized medications to her father.

Board records show Alqulali admitted prescribing controlled substances to her ailing father, who has since died, but did so only when acute or emergency conditions were present and with all of the appropriate documentation.

On July 10, 2026, Alqulali filed a motion for summary judgment, seeking dismissal of the case prior to any hearing being held. Administrative Law Judge Jonathan Gallagher denied that request on Aug. 7, 2026.

Gallagher concluded that of the six prescriptions that were at issue, four included the required documentation, but noted that the medical record for a Nov. 11, 2024, prescription bore a signature date of June 22, 2026, which was after the disciplinary case was initiated.

Citing both the number of the pills prescribed — up to 90 — as well as the nature of the documentation related to those prescriptions, Gallagher concluded there was enough evidence for a reasonable person to “generally discredit” Alqulali’s explanations.

Board hearing proceeds amid court fight

On Aug. 10, 2026, Alqulali appealed Gallagher’s decision to Polk County District Court and, at the same time, applied for an emergency hearing on a request for a continuance of the board hearing that was scheduled to be held just four days later, on Aug. 14, 2026.

In court filings, Alqulali’s attorney, Michael Sellers, argued the board lacked the probable cause necessary to trigger an investigation and potential discipline.

“This is bedrock law,” Sellers told the court. “Board operatives cannot just ‘dig up’ confidential and privileged statutorily protected records and materials from wherever to see if they can ‘put together’ a seemingly viable complaint.”

Sellers argued “the career of an established 30-year veteran, board certified ob/gyn has already been, and is already, jeopardized by this disciplinary proceeding where there is no identifiable probable cause, no complainant, no connection to medical practice, no identifiable public interest and no victim.”

Sellers alleged the board had initially offered a plea deal that would have required Alqulali take two board-approved educational courses on prescribing practices, and that she completed four courses. “The board then, without any warning or notice, filed a public complaint leading to immediate action by UnityPoint Hospital” that required her to obtain a waiver to maintain her credentials at the hospital.

Although Sellers argues there is “no complainant” in the case, he also alleges the complaint against Alqulali was “retaliatory” in nature and was initiated by a UnityPoint Health rehabilitation facility that had been the focus of a complaint alleging Alqulali’s father was mistreated at the facility.

Court records indicate the mistreatment complaint was deemed unsubstantiated by the facility one day before the complaint was filed.

On Aug. 12, 2026, a district court judge ordered that all further action in the case be temporarily halted until he had time to rule on the issues. Two days later, on Aug. 14, 2026, the Iowa Supreme Court stayed that order at the request of the attorney general’s office, clearing the way for the board hearing to take place a few hours later.

Supreme Court asked to block ruling 

The closed-door board hearing took place as scheduled, but Sellers has since filed a petition with the Iowa Supreme Court, seeking a temporary order to block publication of a ruling by the board until the district court can rule on the issues raised in Alqulali’s lawsuit.

Sellers said Thursday that even a minor form of discipline imposed by the board, such as a requirement for additional educational training, could have serious ramifications on Alqulali’s ability to practice.

In response, the attorney general’s office has argued that if Alqulali were to prevail, the Iowa Board of Medicine “will be left in the unenviable position” of having heard all of the evidence in a case while being left unable to issue a ruling in the matter.

In addition, the attorney general’s office argues, “there is now a Sword of Damocles hanging over” Iowa’s licensing boards due to the dispute over whether the district court exceeded its authority in ordering a temporary halt in the board’s proceedings.

Without the Iowa Supreme Court’s continued assertion of jurisdiction in such cases, the state argues, licensing board proceedings are likely to “grind to a halt.”

Sellers has countered that claim by arguing that the attorney general’s attempts to involve the Iowa Supreme Court in such cases are “intended solely to enable the Board of Medicine to issue a sanction in a case that has no value whatsoever — other than an effort to expand and increase and protect the power and authority of licensing boards.”

The court has yet to rule on the matter.