Doctor Surrenders License Over Fake Vaccine, Mask Exemptions

DURHAM, CT — The Durham doctor accused of mailing out exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines and masks to people she didn’t examine, or even know, has voluntarily surrendered her license, according to officials.

Dr. Sue Mcintosh surrendered her license to practice medicine to officials at the Connecticut Department of Public Health on Friday morning.

Mcintosh’s license was suspended last week following a unanimous decision by the Connecticut Medical Examining Board. She was charged with providing fraudulent medical exemption forms through the mail.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health received an anonymous complaint accusing McIntosh of providing fraudulent vaccine exemption forms through the mail related to COVID-19 vaccines, general vaccines, COVID testing, and medical opposition to wearing facial masks.

Officials said Mcintosh provided the forms without ever seeing a patient, and the paperwork was sent to anyone who provided a self-addressed stamped envelope to her.

In the instructions for medical exemptions, McIntosh told people they could "copy and distribute as many forms as you wish to anyone." She also encouraged people to keep blank copies for future use, according to officials.

She ended the instructions with "Let freedom ring!"

“The results of this investigation send a strong message that Dr. Mcintosh’s actions are totally unacceptable,” DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said in a statement. “I commend the staff of our Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section for their due diligence initiating this investigation and for their dedication to the health and safety of our residents.”

The voluntary surrender will be reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank. The NPDB is a web-based repository of reports containing information on medical malpractice payments and certain adverse actions related to health care practitioners, providers, and suppliers, according to a news release. Established by Congress in 1986, the NPDB is a workforce tool that prevents practitioners from moving state to state without disclosing disciplinary actions taken in other jurisdictions.

Juthani also said that Mcintosh’s case file may be referred to state and/or federal law enforcement entities for consideration. Any signed, blank exemption forms from Mcintosh are invalid, according to Juthani. These include forms Mcintosh provided to those who were seeking medical exemptions under Executive Order 13F (long-term care) or 13G (state workers, state contractors, and schools). An exemption calls for a clinical assessment of the patient’s condition to determine if a vaccination poses a risk to the patient’s health.

The hearing scheduled for Oct. 5 on Mcintosh’s previously suspended license is now canceled.