On July 21, 2025, Richard Tancer, a family doctor in Bergen County, NJ, was arrested in Montville after a report was made that Tancer had sexually assaulted a patient during a medical exam. Tancer, 68, was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact after an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Little Ferry Police Department. He was taken to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.
According to media reports, the investigation began after Little Ferry police contacted the prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit on July 18 regarding an alleged sexual assault earlier that day at the Family Medical Group in Little Ferry. Authorities said Tancer, a physician at the clinic, sexually assaulted an adult female patient while performing an examination. Tancer is accused of touching the victim's vagina with his hands and pressing his semi-erect penis against the victim's knee during an exam on Friday, July 18, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
Finding the right medical provider can be a challenging task. We seek out seasoned professionals who possess a good bedside manner, compassion, and empathy. When patients finally decide on one, they hope to feel better over time and not be violated by the very person with whom we place our trust. Healthcare providers hold a position of power in the physician-patient relationship. It is both unacceptable and unlawful for a healthcare professional to touch a patient in any sexual manner or practice any sexual misconduct while treating the patient. The investigation is ongoing.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual misconduct claims against medical professionals on behalf of patients who were inappropriately touched in their care. Under no circumstances is a doctor or nurse permitted to have sexual contact with a patient. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or sexual battery at a medical office or facility, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com for a free consultation.