The state Board of Nursing has suspended the nursing licenses of a man who is accused of forcing abortion pills inside his pregnant girlfriend and violating a no-contact order against his wife multiple times.
David Benjamin Coots had both his Pierce County registered nurse and advanced registered nurse practitioner licenses put on suspension until his legal issues are resolved, the board announced Wednesday. He cannot practice nursing in Washington.
Coots, 49, was arrested on March 11 for allegedly prescribing abortions pills to himself and slipping them inside his pregnant girlfriend during sex. Coots is a registered nurse practitioner who was employed at MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park. The alleged victim was Coots' patient and they developed an intimate relationship.
Coots, 49, is married. His wife, Melissa Coots, is a co-defendant, charged with witness tampering after she and Coots allegedly tried to pay off the victim to prevent her from telling authorities of the alleged sexual assault.
David Coots violated a no-contact order by relaying a message to Melissa Coots. He is out on a $500,000 bail and is facing charges of second-degree assault with a domestic-violence emphasis, third-degree rape and witness tampering. He's pleaded not guilty.
Coots is no longer employed with MultiCare, the medical facility told The News Tribune on March 14.
License investigation
Coots was licensed in 2006 and received his nurse practitioner license in 2008. His license has been in good standing since, but the Board of Nursing authorized a high-priority investigation because of the severity of the complaints, executive director Alison Bradywood previously told The News Tribune.
Bradywood said that the board first heard of the allegations against Coots on March 15 after a complaint was filed following The News Tribune's reporting of the allegations March 14. An investigator was assigned on March 18.
Bradywood said the board investigated possible violations regarding the Nurse Practice Act, allegations of the abortion pills prescription and having relationships with patients.
Coots has 20 days to request a hearing to contest the charges and the suspension, the board said.
