I went to Dr. Principe for a high-risk pregnancy appointment as I am epileptic and am looking to get pregnant the end of 2023. I have never had such a horrible medical experience as I did with him. This will be my first pregnancy as I am recently married, and I am 33.

First, when DP (Dr. Principe) entered the room, he barged in with terrible arrogance that immediately made me feel uncomfortable. DP started to begin our appointment with the door open, after which I had to ask him to close the door (he rolled his eyes as if I was being dramatic.

We began the conversation and he was constantly interrupting me. I took out a small notebook that I had listed questions on - there were questions appropriate for the appointment, such as 'will I need to have a C Section as an epileptic' and 'how do I choose an OBGYN that meets the needs I might have?'. He ripped my notebook out of my hands and ran to the nurse's station & made fun of me for bringing it in & having too many questions (I didn't even start asking anything yet). The door was open and this was absolutely a HIPAA violation as I do not want anyone knowing I am looking to become pregnant.
He comes back in and I ask for my notebook back - he said no. DP then crossed out my questions, writing that some are irrelevant/too soon to ask (such as 'how would I choose a hospital/OBGYN as it relates to me being high-risk'), making fun of me the whole time. He then states that I am asking him everything short of where to send my kid to college. I was made to feel like a complete idiot.

He then gets mad at me for being 33, saying that at 35 the quality of my eggs goes down and that I should have seen him at 22, but I didn’t, and now I am 33 so I made a big mistake.

DP tells me that my epilepsy doctor is a fool for not running a specific medical genetic test on my epilepsy to find out if it is truly genetic as I am saying. I am telling him it is as my epilepsy doctor told me it is, and as I have 4+ family members with the same type of epilepsy. She has me on Sertraline as it relates to my epilepsy and is encouraging me to get off of it before I am pregnant. He told me I should be talking to a psychologist about that, which I said I did speak to one and that doctor recommended the same. He then shamed the psychologist and said that doctor didn’t know what they were talking about either.
He asked what specific type of epilepsy I have – I told him primary generalized & I have tonic-clonic, grand mal and myoclonic seizures. He didn’t think that answer was good enough & put down my doctor.

DP said we need to consider IVF so that we can choose an embryo that does not have epilepsy. This is something I am 100% not interested in, but he was forcing the idea on me. I never vocalized this is something that I wanted to do. He then told me I need to schedule an echo scan, which I did not understand why as I do not have a history of heart problems. He then walked out the room without telling me & called my primary care doctor (I’m still unsure why) to get some information from her on genetic testing?

I said my cousin was just diagnosed with MD recently & I was waiting for a test to see if I was a carrier; DP grew very angry and said I should have had genetic testing for this as well, and that I needed to wait until I get the counseling before I get pregnant. I called the genetics locations he told me to, and they said they don't take on patients unless they are pregnant. How do I have genetics testing for things I didn't know of?

DP then made a comment something to the effect of ‘watch, you won’t listen to anything that I say you should do." It was a vastly incorrect and offensive assumption as it shows he doesn’t know patients properly & misreads them, aka he doesn’t know what he is talking about.

DP then said he is the only high-risk OBGYN in the state that delivers babies, insinuating that he would definitely be my doctor, so I felt pressure to be his patient. He said he would likely not be delivering my baby which doesn’t make sense why he would bully me into being a patient. I am completely uncomfortable with him being my doctor.

As we were leaving he shook my husband’s hand but not mine – I had to stick my hand out and he looked down for a second, then shook my hand. It was completely disrespectful especially as I will be the one pregnant.

I left in tears and spent the whole uber ride home crying, and I called my friends/family sobbing. My husband was distraught and we have never been more caught off guard by such terrible treatment. Had I been better prepared emotionally for his attitude, I would have walked away at the first sign of something bad happening. This was my first true pregnancy appointment and it left me shattered and I would not wish this upon anyone.

Submitted Nov. 8, 2023

Dr. Principe is by far the most unprofessional and uncaring “doctor” I have ever been to. Zero bedside manner. Came in the room very nonchalant, hands in his pockets and zero eye contact. Dressed like he’s going on a date. I had no idea he was the doctor until he finally introduced himself. I don’t expect every doctor to be super warm, but eye contact is the bare minimum. Replies in serious conversations with words like “Nice” And “Cool”. He asks vague questions and gives you an attitude for giving obvious answers. After going over miscarriage results, him and his assistant pointed to the screen and laughed, no idea what could be funny in that situation. If you prefer to be treated as a human being do not see him.

Submitted Sept. 1, 2023

Dr. Principle saved my daughter. Went into labor at 24 weeks and he kept us both healthy until 32 weeks with a safe delivery after labor just couldn't be stopped anymore. I have sent my friends, family, everyone to him and they all love him. For those complaining of a wait in the office, he is late when he is delivering someone else who perhaps had an issue. Just know, when you deliver, and he is 100% focused on you and your baby, someone else is waiting for him. Patience.

Submitted July 5, 2023

We've literally waited for 3 hours + for 5 straight visista and this doctor + their staff at 2 Journal Square are non apologetic, cold and uncaring. I just don't understand how can a doctor make the patient wait for over 3 hours and not care. Appalled and frustrated.

Submitted March 10, 2023

I'll state my case in which I'm certain!
As a first time mom, pregnant at 41 with a high risk pregnancy (and major anxiety)- Dr Principe and his fabulous Clifton team were a godsend!!
If you want to be coddled, Dr Principe may not be your guy but he will give you the best care, honesty (no BS with Dr P) and true empathy. This man is clearly is top in his field and the icing on the cake- he isn't your typical uptight conservative doctor. I was a nervous wreck and he and Nicole (and Natalie and the rest of them) always put me at ease. Nicole is the NP but oh so much more! The woman is amazing.
I had no problem waiting for him. You WILL wait and I didn't care because he literally saved me and my baby girl. Oh and St Joseph's delivery was amazing! An MFM that delivers.... The man is brilliant.

Submitted Jan. 9, 2022

This man should not be practicing the way he speaks to women. Not only is he arrogant but the way he spoke to me was just disgusting. He commented on my figure and in addition to that made a smart gesture to my partner. I'm a high risk patient and anxious and yes im allowed to ask questions but no he was all over the place and said verbatim " that's a stupid question"
Zero empathy. Go elsewhere I did and found a great maternal fetal medicine doctor at nyu in the city.

Submitted July 26, 2020

Always LATE !! Never comes on time and its always poor communication.

Submitted June 4, 2020

My experience dates back about 14 yrs and I will never forget this man and what he did to my wife. If I could give this guy a zero, I would. My wife has Lupis and unfortunately our insurance changed and our regular high risk OBGYN, Dr Solon Davis 3rd from Hackensack University wasn't in the group, Principe was the only High Risk available for us. I remember he was young and with it came cockiness which was fine and he was very flirtatious in a fun way with his clients which was fine too, I though he was going to be just as wonderful as our former doctor, but that was wishful thinking. About 13 weeks into the pregnancy, our baby passed away and he set us up for a DNC at St. Mary's in Hoboken(now called Hoboken University Medical Center). He set the procedure to start early in the morning, we show up at 6am and she's in her gown waiting for him. He doesn't show up until 6pm!!! There was no phone call to let us know he was running late, nothing, and then he shows up acting like nothing is wrong and apologized as if he was only 5mins late, meanwhile my wife is hysterical because our child is dead inside her and she's at his mercy. I had very choice words with him in the hospital hallway and here I am years later and it's still vivid in my mind and I really believe that if we had had Dr Davis instead of him, that pregnancy would've been successful.

Submitted April 27, 2019

I cant believe some of the negative reviews. I went through 8 years of infertility treatment and 5 miscarriages before coming to Dr Principe- so I have more than my share of experience and been through the gamut with doctors. I was previously with high risk specialists at Mt Sinai in NYC who I felt didn't even compare to his familiarity with my condition (incompetent cervix). I couldn't feel in more capable hands with Dr. Principe and the fact that he works out of St Joseph's which has the highest level NICU in this area has me feeling more at ease too. He trained at the very prestigious Univ of Chicago for his MFM certification and I believe went to an Ivy League Undergrad. More importantly in reference to some of these reviews - He was perfectly amiable and empathetic. He is clearly very intelligent , quick-witted and Sure- to the point- but shouldn't your doctor be that way ? His head nurse Nicole was so attentive - and spent so much time with me. I genuinely felt like she cared about my pregnancy as if I were a close friend or family member. I walked out of his office feeling so relieved and so much gratitude that I had been referred here - and that my high risk pregnancy will be seen over by this doctor and his supportive staff. I know there are no guarantees when it comes to pregnancy, and every pregnancy is different, but I will sleep easier from here on out knowing I have found Dr Principe. Anyone who is high risk and lives in mid NJ should be going to him.

Submitted March 27, 2018

He helped me with 2 high risk pregnancies. I have 2 healthy babies & toddler thanks to him. I can't say enough great things about him. He tells you like it is. Which sometimes people don't always want to hear. I can honestly say that my 2 healthy babies are a direct result of Dr. Principe's advice & suggestions. I was on bed rest with my son for 5 months & had cervical cerclage with my daughter. I am thankful we found Dr. Principe because I have witnessed my close girlfriends go thru bad advice and unfortunate miscarriages.

Submitted Sept. 20, 2017