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posted by mrpg on Sunday March 24 2019, @09:40PM   Printer-friendly
from the her-best-interests-at-heart dept.

About a Third of Medical Vaccine Exemptions in San Diego Came From one Doctor:

She wrote 141 exemptions since 2015. The second highest number was 26.

A single San Diego doctor wrote nearly a third of the area’s medical vaccination exemptions since 2015, according to an investigation by the local nonprofit news organization Voice of San Diego.

[...]Medical vaccination exemptions are intended for the relatively few people who have medical conditions that prevent them from receiving vaccines safely. That includes people who are on long-term immunosuppressive therapy or those who are immunocompromised, such as those with HIV or those who have had severe, life-threatening allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylaxis) to previous immunizations. Such patients typically receive medical exemptions incidentally during their medical care. But some doctors are providing evaluations specifically to determine if a patient qualifies for an exemption and granting exemptions using criteria not based on medical evidence. Some doctors are even charging fees for these questionable exemption evaluations—including the doctor in San Diego, Tara Zandvliet.

[...]Zandvliet charges $180 for the evaluation, and her practice does not accept insurance.

Since 2015, Zandvliet has issued 141 of the 486 total medical exemptions granted in the San Diego Unified School District. After Zandvliet, the second highest number of medical exemptions granted by a single doctor was 26. The Voice of San Diego noted that Zandvliet’s practice is listed on several websites as being friendly to anti-vaccine parents.

I would not trust such a doctor to have only my best interests at heart.

If my paying a fee can persuade the doctor to write my desired exemption, then it stands to reason that an incentive from, say, a "big pharma" representative could induce the doctor to prescribe medications for me that are either questionably warranted or for which there are better or less expensive alternatives.


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  • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @09:46PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @09:46PM (#819176)

    The anti-vaxxers are to blame for why our vaccines didn't eradicate the virus, you need to pay us into perpetuity since we altered the epidemology of the disease, and a giant epidemic is on its way anyway since the vaccines clearly are not effective enough.

    • (Score: 2, Informative) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:20PM (1 child)

      by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:20PM (#819221) Homepage Journal

      If you look at, how many people are in San Diego. And how many in Tijuana. It's millions of people, over 3 million. Lot of "people." 141, not a lot of "people." But, it's not 141 "people," it's 141 Exemptions. And possibly, one "person" may need many exemptions. Saying, oh you're exempt from the chicken pox. You're exempt from the measles. Exempt from the tetanus. On and on -- it never ends. Maybe it's 141 "people," I don't know. If it was, wouldn't they say so? They say, the H.I.V., very good reason for an exemption, right? And I'm thinking, in those millions of people, there have got to be 486, or even more, that have the H.I.V. New York, the 80s, that was a very big thing. And it seemed like everybody who was anybody had it. I was already very rich and very famous, but I've been very lucky in that regard. Vietnam, we had lottery numbers and mine, fortunately was very high. Trust me, I wasn't a fan of the Vietnam War. Expensive mistake and so many lives lost. On both sides!!!

      • (Score: 2, Informative) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:31PM

        by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:31PM (#819226) Homepage Journal

        (cont) By the way, if you do math. And you have over 3 million people. Versus, they say 486 exemptions. Can we call it 486 people? Let's say it's people, maybe it's not but we can call it that. You do the percent, it's not a lot. And it's a lot less than 1%, it's more like 0.01%. So tiny. So tiny. And the shots, those aren't 100%. They're not 99.99%. And, they're not even 99%. They're less. They wear off, or they never worked in the first place. You said it yourself -- "not effective enough." That's a much bigger problem. But you won't hear about it from the bought and paid for Fake News M.S.M. And I think a big part of the "not effective enough" is, the doctors do so many shots at once. Tiny children are not horses. One vaccine at a time, over time!!!

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @09:50PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @09:50PM (#819177)

    who are you going to trust? are you even allowed to make such a judgement in today's clownworld?

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:18PM (1 child)

      by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:18PM (#819192) Homepage

      " I would not trust such a doctor to have only my best interests at heart.

      If my paying a fee can persuade the doctor to write my desired exemption, then it stands to reason that an incentive from, say, a "big pharma" representative could induce the doctor to prescribe medications for me that are either questionably warranted or for which there are better or less expensive alternatives. "

      Totally disregarding the fact that big pharma are the ones pushing these same vaccines, especially blatantly unnecessary ones, in exactly the same way that you stated above. Also keep in mind that a good number of medical vaccine exemptions are for kids in Jewish schools, not just barefoot toothless Baptist rednecks. And when Jewish people do something, it's automatically okay and shielded from criticism.

      And where was all the outcry about doctors who did the exact same thing back when marijuana was legal only with a prescription? There were doctors putting out ads in publications for this same thing, you walked in and paid them 100-200 bucks and you walked out with a prescription with the doctor not even bothering to investigate any "ailment."
       

      • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:38PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:38PM (#819198)

        My MJ cert in San Diego was $85 and I had to bring in my CT's and MRI's, along with a lengthy questionnaire of symptoms and MD's seen. The ones charging $100-$200 are paper pushers for cash.

    • (Score: 3, Troll) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:30PM

      by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:30PM (#819225)

      who are you going to trust?

      I'm going to trust Jenny McCarthy and that one woman I keep seeing on Facebook.

      They've done their research I've seen the videos on youtube they link to. They look perfectly rational.

    • (Score: 3, Troll) by Nobuddy on Monday March 25 2019, @01:42PM (1 child)

      by Nobuddy (1626) on Monday March 25 2019, @01:42PM (#819495)

      How about people who went to school for 7 freaking years to learn about this stuff over some soccer mom who googled what Mercury is for 10 minutes.

      • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by PartTimeZombie on Monday March 25 2019, @09:50PM

        by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Monday March 25 2019, @09:50PM (#819758)

        I see someone modded your comment "Troll" which is hilarious really.

        It takes all sorts to make a world, but those anti-vaxx people are just weirdos. My comment above attracted a troll mod too. Presumably by a fan of Jenny McCarthy.

  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @09:57PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @09:57PM (#819181)

    There's the problem. Cartman was patient 0.

  • (Score: 1, Troll) by MostCynical on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:35PM

    by MostCynical (2589) on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:35PM (#819196) Journal

    just want the money.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dg3X3rKtruSg [youtube.com]

    --
    "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Snotnose on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:43PM (2 children)

    by Snotnose (1623) on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:43PM (#819200)

    She keeps records, right? Have a panel of doctors review her case files and, if she's a dumshit revoke her license. I understand she says "vaccinate your kids" but, if she gives idiots an out for No Good Reason (tm) then fuck her.

    --
    Why shouldn't we judge a book by it's cover? It's got the author, title, and a summary of what the book's about.
    • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:49PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:49PM (#819207)

      The front page of her website (http://www.southparkdoctor.com) advertises medical exemptions and "no time on the hassles of bureaucracy". Her and Jenny McCarthy can rot together in Hell.

    • (Score: -1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:23PM

      by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:23PM (#819223) Homepage

      Is this legal to do? If so, then she should be left the fuck alone. If I were her I'd leak stories about the percentage of exemptions coming from Jewish families and that (sadly) will be enough to shut her critics the fuck up. Maybe that problem would solve itself once the authorities, should they investigate, discover those facts themselves through the case files.

  • (Score: 0, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:44PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:44PM (#819201)

    That's why women should stay in the kitchen where they belong, instead of getting all uppity and educated.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:35PM (2 children)

      by Rosco P. Coltrane (4757) on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:35PM (#819228)

      Actually she did very well: she recognized there's money to be made from a bunch of lunatics with too much income, and she's conning them out of their money. I'd said she's as shrewd and unprincipled a business person as any man can be.

      • (Score: 1, Troll) by krishnoid on Monday March 25 2019, @12:34AM (1 child)

        by krishnoid (1156) on Monday March 25 2019, @12:34AM (#819250)

        If she only found a way to actually vaccinate them at the same time, that would be the beneficial icing on the fraud cake.

        • (Score: 3, Interesting) by FatPhil on Monday March 25 2019, @06:41AM

          by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Monday March 25 2019, @06:41AM (#819363) Homepage
          "Take this - >jab< - it will protect you against evil doctors who try to vaccinate you"
          --
          Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
    • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:37PM

      by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Sunday March 24 2019, @11:37PM (#819230) Homepage Journal

      You can call your Witch Hunt a success. Because, you found the Witch. Congrats!!!!

  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:47PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 24 2019, @10:47PM (#819206)

    There is a doctor that is willing to sign off on an opinion that is out of the mainstream, and he gets more business because of it.

    Anyway, this is part of the dilemma of what to do about children: On one hand, they are humans in special need of protection, sometimes from their own parents. So the State needs to make sure they do the right thing for them, like vaccinate them and give them a proper education. On the other hand, the State doesn't really care about the individual whereas parents might, parents should be able to raise their children to have individual opinions and be critical of the State, and then what is the incentive of raising a robot controlled by the State?

    I don't know what is best, but as an adult I am glad that the state exists and protects me against outright harm from people I am forced to live with.

  • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @01:57AM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @01:57AM (#819268)

    In this case, this isn't much money, 141 exemptions x $180 each = $25,380 -- since 2015. If we spread over 4 years it's a pittance when compared to what MD's normally make. Remember they have a huge bill for malpractice insurance in addition to costs for medical record keeping, their office, staff, etc. This must have been a sideline for this MD, and not a very profitable one at that.

    Not sure why this is even "news"?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @05:40AM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @05:40AM (#819347)

      It is news because 1/3 is a huge number given the population. Do you really think 1/3 of people who get medical exemptions found her by chance? No, it is obvious doctor shopping, and she was willing to play. I'd also imagine that since exemptions are not limited to being given by doctors who live in your city, she provided much more than for just this one school district. For goodness sake, she offers a group discount if you and your friends all bring your families to the same appointment. She also provided almost 300% than the doctors on that list who see children with actual disqualifying diseases (the pediatric oncologists, the immunologist, and those as U.C. San Diego) put together.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @08:45AM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @08:45AM (#819402)

        Your argument may be correct, but not in a cute way. Not sure why anyone should care in that case.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @06:36PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @06:36PM (#819674)

          A patient or their guardian who doctor shops like this is usually guilty of a crime, depending on the exact mens rea. Similarly, the doctor who promotes shopping is also guilty of a (different but related) crime AND can get suspended or lose board certification for playing along. People should care because you have an criminal and unethical doctor and conniving parents, none of which are acting in the best interest of the children, abusing exemptions to put the very people in danger that the exemptions are meant to protect the very people they put in danger AND they are making it more difficult for the people who actually need to be exempt to get said exemptions.

    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Nobuddy on Monday March 25 2019, @01:44PM

      by Nobuddy (1626) on Monday March 25 2019, @01:44PM (#819496)

      A doctor does not thrive on a single visit. Where is that mother going to take their kid from now on? A kid now open to and prone to a wide variety of expensive to treat diseases...

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @06:01PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @06:01PM (#819656)

      Pays for a front desk clerk, anyway.

  • (Score: 2) by Alfred on Monday March 25 2019, @02:03PM (6 children)

    by Alfred (4006) on Monday March 25 2019, @02:03PM (#819504) Journal
    She specializes in a kind of medicine where a high percentage of patients would need to be exempt? Of course I didn't

    More importantly if people don't want to vaccinate then they should be able to not vaccinate. Mandating an injection is a violation of my person.

    Vaccines are great and those that think otherwise will die off soon anyway.
    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by cmdrklarg on Monday March 25 2019, @03:33PM (5 children)

      by cmdrklarg (5048) Subscriber Badge on Monday March 25 2019, @03:33PM (#819568)

      I would be all for that, but unfortunately in the case of vaccinations those who refuse out of ignorance endanger those who are unable to be vaccinated (babies, immunocompromised, etc).

      You know, I would also be fine with someone refusing to vaccinate, just as long as they are quarantined from the rest of society.

      --
      The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams.
      • (Score: 2) by Alfred on Monday March 25 2019, @06:16PM (4 children)

        by Alfred (4006) on Monday March 25 2019, @06:16PM (#819663) Journal
        You have made about the best point for vaccinations right after "give me a shot because I don't want to die." And this is where I get torn, herd immunity vs individual rights. I lean to favoring individual rights but I'm open to arguments to the contrary.

        There is some irony in that it seems the people who hate Big Corporate America are also the ones who want to mandate the administration of BCA products. So do they hate the companies or are they gonna shill for them? IDK.
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @07:15PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @07:15PM (#819685)

          To your first point, just like any right, we have to balance the rights of the person against those around them. In this balance we have the individual's right to not get shots out of personal choice (we don't force people to get vaccines that we know would be harmed) against the surrounding population (including the patient in question) from getting preventable, dangerous diseases from indirect contact plus a compensation system in case you are one of the people who does get injured by the vaccine.

          In addition, most vaccinations are given to minors, who don't have the ability to make certain decisions for themselves, so someone else has to make the decision for them regardless and I would prefer if it was someone who actually had the children's best interests in mind.

          If there were some sort of quarantine zone that the unvaccinated people couldn't leave to endanger others (especially given the fact that they tend to participate in other high-risk behaviors), then sure the balance is obviously different, but that isn't the world we are in.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @07:20PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 25 2019, @07:20PM (#819691)

          Forgot to include this in my first point. As to the "irony" you see in that, maybe it is because the world isn't black and white. Both sides have different things about "BCA" that they hate. Yeah, there are plenty of things I don't like about the big pharmaceutical companies, but them making low-margin, well-tested, generic vaccines is not one of them.

        • (Score: 2) by cmdrklarg on Monday March 25 2019, @09:19PM (1 child)

          by cmdrklarg (5048) Subscriber Badge on Monday March 25 2019, @09:19PM (#819741)

          For such moral dilemmas I remember my Spock: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one)."

          Or to paraphrase: "The needs of the herd outweigh the wants of the one."

          If one wants to be part of modern society (the herd) then they need to adhere to those society's rules. You may have the right to refuse, but the herd has the right to refuse you too.

          Even without the multitude of studies done that don't find a link from vaccines to autism (which is where this is coming from), the benefits of vaccines are far greater than the risk of harm.

          --
          The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams.
          • (Score: 2) by Alfred on Tuesday March 26 2019, @05:56PM

            by Alfred (4006) on Tuesday March 26 2019, @05:56PM (#820192) Journal
            Yes the vaccines are of greater help than harm.

            Was it Star Trek III or IV where the needs of the many were thrown out for Spock?

            The best interest of the person or child is most important and there is no way that a legislature will be able to figure that out. I think leaving it to the individual is the only way to go, try and educate them but it should ultimately be them who understands or freaks out enough to realize that a shot will hurt way less than the mumps. A good outbreak in the anti-vaxxers should make for some good data.
  • (Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 28 2019, @04:00AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 28 2019, @04:00AM (#821162)

    Trust the ones big pharma lobby and give kickbacks to.

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