DURHAM, Ct. — A retired doctor in Durham, Connecticut, has had her license temporarily suspended following accusations that she supplied fake COVID-19 exemptions.
Connecticut’s State Medical Examining Board suspended Dr. Sue McIntosh’s state-issued physician and surgeon license after the Connecticut State Department of Public Health accused her of signing and mailing blank vaccine and mask exemption forms to patients she never examined, some of whom she never met, WFSB-TV reported.
According to documents included in the board’s meeting agenda, Mcintosh not only provided signed medical exemption forms for vaccines and masks, but she also told people they could copy and distribute the signed forms to anyone, CNN reported.
McIntosh, who is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, is also accused of sending instructions to people who requested the forms, saying “Keep blank copies for yourself for future use,” and, “Let freedom ring!” the network reported.
DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani called McIntosh’s actions “irresponsible and unacceptable” in a prepared statement that noted any signed, blank exemption forms issued to date by Mcintosh are invalid.
“(McIntosh’s) practice of medicine represents a clear and immediate danger to the public health and safety of our communities. The suspension of her license should serve as a warning to other practitioners that this conduct deviates from the standard of care and is subject to serious discipline,” Juthani added.
According to WFSB-TV, McIntosh is also accused by the health department of failing to comply with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, providing harmful medical advice, failing to maintain appropriate medical records and encouraging people to distribute the fraudulent forms.
The health department received an anonymous complaint in July alleging McIntosh’s misconduct, CNN reported.
A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 5.
More coronavirus pandemic coverage:
>> Coronavirus: How long between exposure to the virus and the start of symptoms?
>> How to not let coronavirus pandemic fatigue set in, battle back if it does
©2021 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
