In a serious breach of medical ethics and the law, a Pierce County nurse faces suspension and criminal charges after reportedly engaging in alarming misconduct. David Benjamin Coots, a registered nurse and advanced nurse practitioner, has had his license put on ice by the Washington State Board of Nursing until further notice. According to the board, Coots stands accused of second-degree assault and third-degree rape, both under the grim shadow of domestic violence, announced by the Washington State Department of Health.

Here's the unnerving backstory: Coots allegedly decided to covertly administer an abortion-inducing drug to a woman—with whom he'd been both professionally and romantically involved—after she revealed the possibility of being pregnant with his child. The drug in question, misoprostol, was surreptitiously inserted by Coots, as per charges filed in the Superior Court for Pierce County. The Washington State Board of Nursing has swiftly acted to ensure Coots cannot continue to practice, as per the Washington State Department of Health, “Coots cannot practice nursing in Washington until the charges are resolved."

After the incident, which reportedly took place on January 27, Coots was handed a $500,000 bail and is currently out on bond, but with the stipulation of being monitored via a GPS tracking device. The spotlight now not only shines on Coots' alleged criminal behavior but also on the staunch process the Board of Nursing employs to protect public health and safety.