California court orders doctor to turn over vaccine records

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A state appeals court has ordered a California physician to turn over medical records of three children for whom he issued medical exemptions from vaccinations.

In a ruling filed Friday, the First District Court of Appeal said Dr. Ron Kennedy had compelled the Medical Board of California to go to court by refusing to hand over the documents.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the board is investigating whether Kennedy “is improperly issuing blanket medical exemptions from vaccinations.”

The Santa Rosa physician has argued that submitting the records would violate patient privacy. Attorney Michael Machat said none of the patients whose records were sought complained about Kennedy’s performance.

Brian Prystowsky, a Santa Rosa pediatrician working to tighten California’s vaccination rules, said Sonoma County has become a haven for physician-approved vaccination exemptions.

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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com