NJ Doc Admits Sexual Contact With Substance Abuse Patient: Attorney General

SEA GIRT, NJ – New Jersey’s Board of Medical Examiners has suspended the license of a 60-year-old Sea Girt physician who admitted to inappropriate sexual contact with a female patient he was treating for substance abuse and also allegedly engaged in questionable prescribing practices involving the same patient.

Francis Rienzo, who has a private practice in Sea Girt, is also the medical director for several New Jersey treatment centers, including the Comprehensive Treatment Center in Cliffwood, Endeavor House in North Kearney, Advanced Health and Education Addiction Treatment Center, and Clearwater Behavioral Health in Eatontown, and Sunrise Detox in Cherry Hill, Stirling and Toms River.

Additionally, Rienzo is a staff physician at Jersey Shore Addiction Services and Hackensack Meridian Health, both with offices in Neptune.

Under the terms of the Consent Order, Rienzo agreed to a consent order with the Board, which includes a three-year suspension, two years of active suspension, and the remaining year as a period of probation of his New Jersey medical license plus $85,856 in civil penalties and cost.

According to the order, if proven, Rienzo’s inappropriate sexual contact with a patient and his prescribing of potentially addictive medications would constitute gross or repeated malpractice and professional misconduct. The order goes on to say that the physician’s alleged failures to maintain an adequate patient record and perform an appropriate patient examination before issuing a prescription would, if proven, be grounds for disciplinary action.

Rienzo’s suspension will effect on Dec. 17 to allow adequate time for the orderly transfer of patients to other New Jersey licensed physicians. During this period, Rienzo is prohibited from accepting any new patients and must ensure that they access their medical records.

Starting Dec. 17, Rienzo cannot contact patients, practice as a physician, or issue any medical prescriptions, including controlled dangerous substances. Rienzo is also precluded from entering the premises of his medical practice when patients may be present and may not receive or share any fee for professional services rendered by others.

Rienzo will be required to appear before the Board to demonstrate the fitness to resume practicing medicine should he petition for reinstatement after two years of active suspension. If Rienzo’s license is reinstated in the future, a Board-approved chaperone will have to be present any time that he provides treatment to any female patient for any reason.

“We will not tolerate sexual misconduct by healthcare professionals towards their patients,” Bruck said in a statement. “Physicians who betray their patients’ trust and violate professional standards will be held accountable.”

“The dangerous and unethical behavior exhibited by this doctor raised serious concerns,” said Sean P. Neafsey, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “Our office works hard to protect patients and ensure those who abuse the public’s trust are penalized.”