Dana Point Doctor Faces Discipline for No-Vax Recommendation

DANA POINT, CA — Dr. Bob Sears, a Capistrano Beach pediatrician who is an outspoken critic of mandatory vaccination laws, faces possible state Medical Board discipline after he recommended that a 2-year-old patient forgo immunizations, it was reported today.

The board accuses Sears of committing "gross negligence" in 2014 when he wrote a letter excusing the toddler from future vaccinations after the child’s mother described an adverse reaction, The Orange County Register reported, citing legal documents.

The documents say Sears failed to obtain a detailed medical history documenting the unidentified boy’s prior vaccines and reactions, which was necessary for making an evidence-based decision, the Register reported. Sears’ recommendation left the patient and "his future contacts at risk for preventable and communicable diseases,” the documents say.

If the board finds Sears negligent, the pediatrician, who has not yet commented on the issue, could face discipline ranging from a public reprimand to revocation of his medical license, according to the register.

Sears is known for his unorthodox views on vaccination. He’s the author of "The Vaccine Book," which includes an alternative shot schedule to what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. He wrote in an op-ed piece published in the Register last year that "vaccination is important and protective. But it cannot be forced; a parent must give consent."

Sears has also criticized the tough new California law that no longer allows parents to file personal belief exemptions in order to enroll unvaccinated children in school. Instead, a medical waiver must be provided by a doctor.

City News Service, Shutterstock Photo