Shannon and Danny NELSON, Individually, and on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor, Appellees, v. Lynn M. LINDAMAN, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, and Mercy Medical Center—Des Moines, Appellants

WATERMAN, Justice.

In this appeal, we must address the immunity from civil liability afforded by Iowa Code section 232.73 (2009) for a physician participating in a child abuse assessment. The physician treated the infant victim’s broken arm and told the investigator for the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) the father’s version of how the injury occurred was plausible. The baby was left in his parents’ care and three weeks later suffered a severe brain injury while with his father.

The infant’s adoptive parents filed this medical malpractice action, alleging the physician’s negligence and…