Salem County physician who allegedly had sexual relations with a patient surrenders medical license

SALEM COUNTY, NJ (WTXF) - A Salem County physician who allegedly had sexual relations with a patient has surrendered his license to practice medicine, the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General announced via a press release Monday.

According to the release, the State Board of Medical Examiners entered into a Consent Order with Dr. Paul George Bussey. Both parties agreed to temporarily suspend his license after allegations that the doctor had sexual relations with a patient were made.

A complaint was filed with the BME on September 29, 2015 that sought the temporary suspensive of Bussey's license.

The complaint alleged that he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a longtime female patient he was treating for depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, addiction, and other ailments.

"A doctor-patient relationship is considered sacrosanct and should not be breached in any way," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said.

"A doctor who engages in sexual misconduct with a patient, especially one he's medically treating for mental issues, is among the most egregious violations of that relationship I can think of."

According to the complaint, Bussey allegedly has a two-month sexual relationship with a 30-year-old patient between January and March of 2015.

Bussey had been treating the patient since she was 21-years-old, and as part of the treatment he was prescribing narcotic and psychotropic medications to her.

The pair's sexual relationship allegedly began in January 2015.

Bussey, who is married, hired the patient to assist with medical billing in his office. He gifted her with money, jewelry, dining in restaurants, and they had sex in his office, according to the complaint.

They also allegedly sent each other text messages of a sexually explicit nature on a cell phone he bought for her.

"Patients who come to health care professionals when they are ill and vulnerable bring with them expectations that their welfare will be placed above all else," Steve Lee, Acting Director of the State Division of Consumer Affairs said.

"If these allegations are true, Dr. Bussey put his own sexual desires ahead of his patient's well-being and used his position of trust to victimize her in a way no patient deserves."

The complaint also alleged that Bussey asked for sexually explicit photos of the patient, but she said that she couldn't because her mother, whom she lived with, was awake.

Bussey allegedly suggested that the patient give her mother an extra dose of anti-anxiety and antipsychotic medication, previously prescribed to the patient's mother by Bussey, to help her fall asleep.

So far, Bussey has consented to temporarily surrendering his license on November 4.

It will remain in suspension until the board holds a plenary hearing to discuss bringing him against further disciplinary action. A date for that hearing has not yet been scheduled.