NEWARK - Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs today announced that the State Board of Medical Examiners (“the Board”) has temporarily suspended the license of a Bergen County doctor following his arrest on charges of sexually assaulting two female patients during office visits.
Officials say Dr. Carl J. Renner, who practiced in Hasbrouck Heights, was arrested by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) on June 6 and charged with second-degree sexual assault on a female patient who reported the alleged incident to police on June 3.
According to officials, on June 14, Renner was charged with two additional counts of second-degree sexual assault on another female patient who alleged that Renner assaulted her during an office visit on May 30, 2019, and during an office visit that took place between May and September of 2016.
Under an Interim Consent Order with the Board, Renner, who denies the allegations against him, agreed to the temporary suspension of his license pending the disposition of the criminal charges and further action of the Board.
“Doctors who sexually prey on patients not only break the law, they violate the trust that patients place in their doctors,” said Attorney General Grewal. “As the Board’s action in this case demonstrates, we will move swiftly to intercede in cases where doctors are charged with sexually exploiting their patients.”
“The criminal allegations against this doctor include serious and harmful acts that victimized two patients,” said Paul R. Rodríguez, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “By obtaining the temporary suspension of his license, the Board has taken appropriate steps to ensure that the public is adequately protected until these criminal charges are resolved.”
Renner, who resides in Glen Rock, is a general practitioner at Heights Medical Associates located at 288 Boulevard in Hasbrouck Heights. The investigation was initiated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department.
Anyone with information about Dr. Carl Renner can contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 201-226-5620.
Under the terms of the Interim Consent Order, Renner must immediately cease and desist all patient contact including seeing, examining, treating or otherwise offering medical services at any location in New Jersey, including but not limited to his medical practice located in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey or any healthcare facility. This limitation shall specifically include the issuance of any prescription for, or dispensation of, medications of any kind within the State of New Jersey including but not limited to Controlled Dangerous Substances. Renner is also prohibited from entering his former medical practice during business hours when patients may be present.
Deputy Attorney General Michael Antenucci, of the Professional Boards Prosecution Section in the Division of Law, represented the State in this matter.
Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or (973) 504-6200.