By Nicolas Fernandes - NJ Advance Media - 12.09.2024 [USA] - [Cornelius Gallagher]
A doctor who has been indicted on child sexual assault charges has reached an agreement with the state to surrender his medical license, the New Jersey Attorney General’s office said on Thursday.
Cornelius Gallagher, 62, of Wall, was indicted in July on two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault and one count of child endangerment. The charges stem from allegations that the pulmonologist sexually assaulted a child for more than a decade and was also allegedly in possession of child pornography.
Gallagher previously worked for Shore Pulmonary and was also affiliated with three Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals — Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center and Ocean University Medical Center.
The doctor filed a consent order with the state Board of Medical Examiners last week in which he agreed to voluntarily surrender his license pending the outcome of his criminal case, the state said.
As part of the agreement, he is prohibited from providing medical care, writing prescriptions, supervising a medical practice and having contact with patients. In addition, he cannot testify as an expert witness or consultant, the Attorney General’s office said.
“The sexual exploitation of a child, as is alleged here, is one of the most heinous crimes that can be committed. When a physician is facing these types of charges, the action taken by the Board is not only appropriate, but necessary,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. “Until these charges are resolved, public protection demands that he remain out of practice and have no contact with patients.”
Investigators with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office alleged the repeated sexual abuse started in 2004 when the victim was under the age of 13. The allegations do not involve any of his patients, prosecutors said.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article and were abused in state run medical and health facilities, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm.