Monmouth Pharmacist Sold Unproven COVID-19 Treatments: AG

OCEAN, NJ – A licensed pharmacist and owner of a Monmouth County pharmacy offered an unproven natural treatment for COVID-19 and advised at least one person to purchase vitamins and enzyme supplements instead of the medications prescribed by her doctor, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced Thursday.

Eric J. Sauer, the owner of Natural Pharmacy in Ocean Township, has been ordered by the state’s Board of Medical Examiners to cease operating as a medical doctor or practice alternative medicine in New Jersey.

Sauer has agreed to cease operating as a physician after an undercover investigation found that he does not have a license to practice medicine in the state and has no doctoral degree, according to a release from the Office of Attorney General.

“Only individuals with a medical license and the required training may practice medicine in New Jersey,” said Grewal in a statement. “Those who engage in the practice of medicine without the required credentials put the public health at risk and should expect a forceful response from the State.”

Grubir’s complaint filed with the board in July alleges that Sauer is identified on his pharmacy’s website and voicemail as “Dr. Sauer” and as a naturopathic physician. New Jersey state law prohibits individuals not licensed by the Board from using titles that imply they are practitioners of medicine, according to the AG’s office.

The complaint also alleges that Sauer engaged in “the unlicensed practice of medicine,” including reviewing medical histories, interpreting blood results and counseling patients. Sauer told an undercover investigator from the Enforcement Bureau of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) that medications prescribed by her doctor would cause cancer and that she should instead take the “natural alternatives” that he sold.

“This case demonstrates why licensing laws are in place to protect the health and safety of the public. Patients should never have to worry about whether a professional offering them medical advice is qualified to do so,” said Division of Consumer Affairs Director Paul R. Rodríguez in a statement. “By selling expensive interventions based on unqualified advice, an unlicensed practitioner harms not only a consumer’s wallet, but potentially their health if they are advised to stop taking needed prescriptions. I commend the Board for their commitment to protect the public, and taking action to stop Sauer before he causes serious harm.”

According to the state’s complaint, Sauer charged the undercover investigator $175 for a consultation in 2019 as “Dr. Eric”, ordered a saliva test for $200 and advised the investigator to substitute her doctor-prescribed medications for Sauer’s enzyme supplements for $261.55.
Sauer appeared before a committee of the Board in February 2020, admitting to using the titles “Dr.”, “NMD”, and “Naturopathic Physician” on his website and in consultations, as well as to reviewing bloodwork, recommending over the counter saliva tests, and counseling patients to take vitamin and enzyme supplements.

Sauer later agreed to modify his website to remove the titles “Dr.”, “NMD”, and “Naturopathic Physician," according to the AG’s office.

An April 2020 follow-up investigation in the form of a phone consultation regarding preventative treatment for COVID-19 saw Sauer give a list of eleven supplements and the dosages for both healthy individuals and those symptomatic for COVID-19. The quoted cost for the recommended supplements was approximately $320, according to the AG’s office.

In addition to changing his practices, Sauer is required to pay $29,880 in investigative costs for the three-year period. In the event Sauer violates any of the terms of the consent order, he will have to pay a $30,000 penalty.

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 to receive a complaint form by mail.