A Connecticut doctor who gave patients blank, signed COVID-19 exemption forms has surrendered her medical license

• Sue McIntosh, a former Connecticut physician, has surrendered her medical license after an investigation found she gave blank exemption waivers to patients.
• Patients who wanted a waiver had to mail her a self-addressed and stamped envelope to receive one.
• These waivers gave people a reason to avoid wearing masks or getting vaccinated.

A Connecticut doctor voluntarily surrendered her medical license on Friday, after officials learned she was giving patients blank, signed COVID-19 exemption waivers.

An anonymous tip to the Connecticut Medical Examining Board prompted an investigation into retired physician Sue McIntosh.

She had been "providing fraudulent vaccine exemption forms through the mail related to COVID-19 vaccines, general vaccines, COVID testing, and medical opposition to wearing facial masks," the investigation said. Patients, when they received these forms, only had to fill out their name and date and then select a reason for a mask exemption, records show.

She sent out these forms without ever having physically examined the patients, the board said. Patients who wanted an exemption waiver had to mail her a self-addressed and stamped envelope to receive one.

Supplemental documents provided by the state's health department said McIntosh also instructed patients to "copy and distribute as many forms as they wish."

Her license was suspended on September 24. About a week later, McIntosh surrendered her license, according to a release from the state's health department.

"Let freedom ring!" McIntosh wrote on an instruction form accompanying the waiver.

Each waiver was signed by McIntosh. The mask exemption form said that the patient knows "to practice hygiene, including sneezing or coughing into an elbow, handkerchief or clothing."

And the vaccine exemption form says that McIntosh certified that the patient has anaphylaxis to polyethylene glycol and "cannot be vaccinated."

"These actions by Dr. McIntosh are irresponsible and unacceptable," Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, said in a statement. "Her 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."