Accused Essex County Doctor Banned From Practicing In NJ: Prosecutors

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A surgeon who worked in Essex County has agreed to permanently give up practicing medicine in New Jersey as part of a settlement with the state, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Marc Watson, a vascular surgeon who practiced in Cedar Grove, agreed to permanently forfeit his authority to diagnose, treat, or render medical care in New Jersey, according to the office of the attorney general.

The agreement with Watson resolves allegations that he “indiscriminately” prescribed high volumes of regulated drugs to patients he treated for addiction, including benzodiazepines, stimulants and narcotics, prosecutors said.

Read the full consent order here.

An inspection of Watson’s medical office and a review of his patient records revealed that in some cases, he prescribed controlled dangerous substances (CDS) for years without fully assessing the patient’s underlying medical conditions or referring the patient to alternate treatment providers, such as psychiatrists.

Watson – who has been practicing addiction medicine since 2005 – has also been accused of performing “inadequate” physical examinations, patient monitoring and record keeping, prosecutors added.

In August 2023, Watson appeared before a preliminary evaluation committee with the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners and admitted that he has no formal training in addiction medicine and did not see any patients in person or conduct any urine drug screens between March 2020 and August 2021, authorities said.

Watson also testified that he often fails to obtain a patient’s prior medical records, diagnoses conditions — including psychiatric and neurological conditions — without adequate testing, and has prescribed CDS upon a patient’s initial presentation before first prescribing safer alternative medications (as required), prosecutors said.

Here’s what will happen now, authorities said:

“Under a final consent order filed by the [New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners] on February 22, 2024, Watson must close his office and permanently cease engaging in the clinical practice of medicine and surgery in New Jersey, following a 30-day wind-down period to allow him to transfer the care of his patients. Additionally, after the wind-down period, Watson’s New Jersey CDS registration, which allowed him to prescribe controlled dangerous substances in this state, will be permanently retired with prejudice and he is prohibited from reapplying for one in the future. Watson is permitted to retain his medical license only for the limited purpose of conducting mandated on-site testing of construction workers in connection with his ownership and operation of a mobile Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) testing company. He is prohibited from practicing medicine in any other capacity—or seeking to expand the scope of his medical practice—beyond what is permitted in the final consent order.”

Authorities said 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.

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