Mercer County OB-GYN’s License Suspended Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct During Patient Exams

State Board cites "immediate danger" in temporarily suspending Bruce Pierce’s medical license pending further hearings.

The New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners has temporarily suspended the medical license of Mercer County obstetrician and gynecologist Bruce Pierce following allegations of sexual misconduct during patient examinations. The suspension, announced by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs, follows testimony from two longtime patients who accused Pierce of inappropriate behavior under the guise of routine medical care.

Pierce, who practiced at Delaware Valley OBGYN & Princeton Midwifery in Lawrenceville, was accused of professional misconduct, gross negligence, and violations of Board regulations during two incidents in 2023. The Board unanimously voted to suspend Pierce’s license after a November 13, 2024, hearing where the testimonies of both patients were presented.

Allegations of Misconduct

Patient 1

The first incident, which allegedly took place in January 2023, involved a woman identified in publicly filed documents as “Patient 1,” who testified that Pierce had been her OB/GYN since approximately the mid-1990s.

According to allegations contained in the Verified Complaint, after conducting a normal breast, pelvic, and rectal exam on the patient in the presence of a female chaperone, Pierce dismissed the chaperone and asked Patient 1 if he could repeat the exam. When she asked him why that was necessary, he allegedly told her “sometimes things change as we get older” and that he wanted to “double-check things to be sure.” During the second exam, Pierce allegedly inappropriately touched Patient 1.

During the Board hearing, Patient 1 testified that she left Pierce’s office feeling violated, as she knew that something about the second examination was not right. She further testified that after speaking with a work supervisor and some family members, she decided to report the incident to the Lawrence Township Police and file a complaint with the Board. In her complaint, Patient 1 explained how the alleged misconduct by her trusted physician has negatively impacted her life and emotional health.

Patient 2

The second incident, which allegedly took place in December 2023, involved a woman identified in filed documents as “Patient 2.”

According to the allegations contained in the Verified Complaint, Patient 2 sought an appointment with Pierce after experiencing pelvic pain. During the visit, Patient 2 underwent an ultrasound conducted by a lab technician and was then taken into an examination room. Pierce allegedly came into the room and told Patient 2 that her ultrasound looked fine and asked her if she wanted a female chaperone during his examination of her, an offer she declined. During the examination, Pierce allegedly inappropriately touched Patient 2. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the manner in which Pierce was touching her, Patient 2 asked Pierce to stop and he complied.

In her testimony before the Board, Patient 2 said she declined to have a chaperone present because she trusted Pierce, who had been her OB/GYN for more than 20 years and had delivered her child. She also told the Board that in past visits with Pierce, she had never had to request that a chaperone be present during examinations because one had always been present.

Approximately two hours after Patient 2 left Pierce’s office, he allegedly called her from his personal cell phone to ask if she was “okay.” Patient 2, who was still in shock and upset from the day’s events, ended the call quickly by indicating that she was “okay.”

Two days later, Patient 2 allegedly sent Pierce a text message telling him that initially after the appointment, she was “in a state of shock,” but that upon reflection, her feelings of shock had been replaced with those of “fury and disgust.” She explained that she realized his behavior was “unprofessional and unacceptable” and accused Pierce of having “abused her good faith.” Patient 2 indicated that her “only mistake” was not having requested a chaperone before the exam, but, because she trusted him as her long-time physician, she did not think one was necessary. Patient 2 informed Pierce she would not be using his practice ever again and expressed concern about him engaging in similar misconduct with other patients.

On the same day, Pierce allegedly replied to Patient 2’s text message by stating: “Okay, I’m so sorry, I upset you. It will never happen again I do value our 20-plus-year doctor-patient relationship. Thank you for not making it public. My career will be over, and I don’t know what I would do. I hope you can forgive me. This will never happen again. I understand that you are leaving the practice, but I hope you will reconsider and give me one more chance.”

Patient 2 subsequently reported the alleged incident to the Board, in part to prevent Pierce from abusing other unsuspecting patients. In her complaint, Patient 2 said the incident has caused her significant distress and resulted in a distrust of health care professionals.

Board’s Decision and Investigation

The Board’s November 25, 2024, Order of Temporary Suspension cited the patients’ testimonies as credible and described Pierce’s actions as a violation of trust and a danger to public safety. The Board rejected Pierce’s defense, which argued insufficient evidence and alternative measures to protect patients.

“[Pierce] engaged in conduct, which is entirely antithetical to medical practice, and runs wholly afoul of all physician’s obligations to do no harm to their patients. That conduct unquestionably presents a continuing and immediate danger to any and all of [Pierce’s] patients. There are no measures short of a full, immediate temporary suspension of license that we could craft which would adequately protect [Pierce’s] patients from such egregious conduct,” the Board wrote in its Order.

The Division of Consumer Affairs’ Enforcement Bureau conducted the investigation, with further proceedings to occur before the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law.

Resources for Patients

Patients who believe they have been inappropriately treated by a licensed health care professional are encouraged to file a complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs online or by calling 1-800-242-5846 or 973-504-6200.