(PRESS RELEASE) SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Optometric Association (COA) has contributed $10,000 to the Oklahomans Against SQ 793, a campaign sponsored by the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians. Appearing on the November 2018 ballot, State Question 793, backed in large part by Walmart Inc., would amend the Oklahoma constitution to permit corporate retailers to restrict a doctor of optometry’s lawful scope of practice.
“This is an attempt by a for-profit corporation to control the profession of optometry and is wrong, misleading and bad public policy,” said COA President Dr. Ranjeet S. Bajwa. “This is an attempt to increase the profits of one of the nation’s largest corporations that puts at risk the public’s health and welfare by limiting the independent clinical judgment of our proud profession. If allowed to become law, we believe it will embolden profit-motivated giant corporations to come to our state and attempt the same.”
COA calls on its fellow state affiliates to join us in this commitment to stop this corporate attack on our profession and the public it serves. We believe the doctor-patient relationship has no room for corporate influence that may prioritize profits over the health and wellness of the individual.