Grafilo

*430 Dr. Kamyar Cohanshohet appeals from the superior court's order to produce the medical records of five of his patients in connection with an investigation into his prescription of controlled substances *431 to these patients. Because the state has failed to demonstrate good cause to obtain these records, we reverse the order.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

The Investigation

In 2014, the Medical Board of California (the Board) received an anonymous complaint alleging Dr. Cohanshohet "prescribes huge quantities of narcotics to patients without giving exams, tests, x-rays or even bloodwork. A loved one went to this doctor and is now in rehab. Not once did this doctor examine him, look at charts. He only went by a complaint of pain and started prescribing narcotics at $400 a visit every two weeks. He is in partnership with a pharmacy in his building."

An investigator for the Board obtained a report from the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES), a database maintained by the California Department of Justice. The CURES report for Dr. Cohanshohet shows the Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances prescribed by him to patients between July 27, 2014 and…