My question involves medical malpractice in the state of: NJ

I have a question about a doctor refusing to assist/treat one spouse when both spouses are patients of the doctor.

If the wife is falling down a lot and has gotten hurt (cuts, bruises, etc.), got into a car accident, is very forgetful, and has become more hostile lately, and her husband is so concerned that he makes an appointment to meet with their doctor alone to discuss this with the doctor and to ask what he should do and the doctor refuses to provide any guidance other than saying, "You have to decide whether you want to remain married to her," what does that mean for the doctor and for the husband? Isn't this an odd thing for a medical doctor to tell the worried spouse of a patient of his? How would this be a HIPAA violation if the doctor offers advice? These are medical symptoms?