Peter C. Harvey, Attorney General

Division of Consumer Affairs
Reni Erdos, Director

For Immediate Release:
December 17, 2003

For Further Information Contact:
Jeff Lamm, Genene Morris
973-504-6327

NEWARK - A nurse who has been charged by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office in connection with the death of a patient has voluntarily surrendered his license to the State Board of Nursing, Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos said.

Charles Cullen of Bethlehem, Pa., voluntarily surrendered his license following his arrest and the filing of criminal charges. He has been licensed as a Registered Nurse in New Jersey since August 1987.

The Board of Nursing filed an interim order today which deems the voluntary surrendering of Cullen's license to be a temporary license suspension. The temporary license suspension will remain in effect until the Board of Nursing enters a final order of suspension.

"This license suspension is warranted based on the criminal charges that have been filed," Attorney General Harvey said.

"If Mr. Cullen had not agreed to surrender his license, the Board of Nursing was prepared to act on its own," Director Erdos noted.

"Whenever licensed professionals are implicated in charges that indicate they have engaged in conduct that poses a threat to the public, we will respond swiftly by instituting a civil enforcement action against their license," said First Assistant Attorney General Edward M. Neafsey.

The Board of Nursing oversees and regulates the nursing profession. There are approximately 160,000 nurses and homemaker-home health aides in New Jersey.