Exclusive | Democrat California doctor accused of using dark arts to try to get into Congress: explosive suit
A California doctor faces a class-action lawsuit for allegedly misusing patient medical records to fuel her recent congressional campaign. Dr. Sonia Devgan-Kacker, owner of Westlake Village Urgent Care, stands accused of using her clinic’s private database to send unsolicited political text messages to former patients during her run for the 26th district seat.
The suit, filed by former patient Sean Rose, highlights a May 2026 text message that combined a political advertisement for the candidate with an update on clinic operating hours. The message, which featured a photo of the doctor and links to her campaign website, originated from the campaign's contact list rather than the medical facility's professional portal.
According to court documents, an initial email from the clinic admitted that the campaign used patient phone numbers to distribute these political messages. Although the clinic later attempted to clarify that the outreach relied on geographic targeting rather than patient status, the plaintiff contests this explanation. Rose points to his own relocation to a different district, which he argues should have excluded him from the targeted list if the campaign had relied on public voter data as they claimed.
The lawsuit asserts that these actions violated the California Confidentiality of Medical Records Act. This state law prohibits health care providers from disclosing patient information without express authorization. Rose is now seeking both statutory and punitive damages from the clinic for the unauthorized breach of his private information.
Dr. Devgan-Kacker entered the race in January 2026 after the incumbent announced she would not seek re-election. Despite her campaign efforts, the doctor failed to advance past the June primary election. Neither the doctor nor the clinic has provided further comment on the specific allegations regarding the misuse of the private patient database.