Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs (“Division”) announced today that an Essex County surgeon has agreed to a seven-year suspension of his medical license to resolve allegations that his practice of endovascular surgery grossly deviated from the standard of care and caused patients bodily harm that included permanent disfigurement, tissue loss, pain, wounds, and scarring.
Dr. David A. Greuner, who practiced general, thoracic, and vascular surgery in Roseland, West Caldwell, and other locations, has not practiced in New Jersey since his medical license was temporarily suspended in August 2022 amid allegations that his “inability or unwillingness to grasp the very fundamentals of vascular surgery and the practice of medicine in general” made him a clear and imminent danger to the public.
Gruener, who is not formally trained in vascular surgery, allegedly caused harm to three patients who all suffered severe complications just hours or days after undergoing catheter embolization procedures that required emergency surgeries, followed by days and weeks of hospitalization.
The State alleged that Greuner’s actions constituted gross negligence that endangered the life and safety of his patients, professional misconduct, and a failure to comply with Board rules pertaining to accurate and complete preparation of patient records.
In a final consent order filed on July 11, 2025, Greuner agreed to resolve these allegations with a seven-year suspension of his medical license.
“Public safety demands that surgeons in New Jersey be proficient in diagnosing and treating patients according to accepted standards of care within their fields,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Surgeons who fail to fulfill this most basic requirement present an enormous risk to their patients and undermine trust in the medical profession. We will continue to investigate and take action against these individuals to protect the public and ensure the integrity of New Jersey’s healthcare system.”
“Patients who seek vascular procedures are entitled to safe and appropriate medical care by highly skilled venous disease specialists,” said Elizabeth M. Harris, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “By suspending Dr. Greuner from the practice of medicine and establishing rigorous conditions for his return and continued practice, we are acting to protect the public from further harm.”
The allegations against Greuner stem from embolization procedures he performed on three patients to treat congenital defects resulting in abnormal connections of blood vessels – conditions known as “venous malformations” or “VMs.”
When done correctly, an embolization is a delicate procedure that that uses an embolic agent to block the blood flow to VMs to help restore normal blood flow and return patients to normal functioning. However, a surgical misstep can be catastrophic and result in severe pain, loss of sensation and function, and/or necrosis in affected areas, as occurred in Greuner’s patients.
One 40-year-old patient, for instance, suffered necrosis of the rectal tissue during a catheter embolization in her pelvic area, which necessitated the surgical removal of her rectum and part of her colon. She now requires an ostomy bag to empty her bowels.
Two other patients suffered from painful increased pressure – a condition known as “compartment syndrome”– in their lower legs shortly after undergoing vascular embolization in those limbs. Both needed emergency surgery to relieve that pressure, causing pain and some loss of sensation and/or function, requiring extensive reconstructive wound care. The condition of one patient was so severe that she faced the risk of leg amputation.
The State alleged that Greuner’s approach to endovascular surgery reflected, among other things, several gross deviations from the accepted standards of care, including his:
- inadequate pre-operative planning by failing to obtain MRI imaging to confirm the presence of AVMs prior to his intervention;
- reliance on incomplete and/or poor pre- and post-operative angiographic images;
- primary use of embolic agents that produce only temporary results and are associated with a restoration of blood flow to the VM; and
- failure to maximize patient recovery by scheduling embolization procedures within two weeks, instead of waiting six weeks between procedures.
Under the terms of the final consent order, Greuner must successfully complete a Board-approved ethics course, complete 20 hours of continuing medical education specific to surgical practice, and undergo a full evaluation and assessment of his general medical knowledge and skill before he becomes eligible for reinstatement.
If Greuner’s license is reinstated, his surgical practice would be limited to general surgery only. Upon reinstatement, Greuner would be required to comply with practice monitoring for a period of not less than five years. If Greuner seeks to practice vascular surgery and perform endovascular procedures in the future, he must complete an ACGME-accredited vascular surgery fellowship program for at least a two-year period, and become board certified in vascular surgery. After completing this fellowship and attaining Board certification, Greuner’s first 50 endovascular procedures, at minimum, must be monitored by an experienced vascular surgeon who is pre-approved by the Board and who shall report their findings to the Board in writing before Greuner can petition the Board for an unrestricted license. If he is reinstated, Greuner must also pay a $25,000 civil penalty and reimburse the Division $76,770 for investigative costs and attorney’s fees.
Deputy Attorney General Lydwin Nonez, under the supervision of Professional Boards Prosecution Section Chief Doreen Hafner in the Division of Law’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group, represented the State in this matter.
Patients who believe they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
