In late September, authorities in El Paso took a 69-year-old emergency-medicine physician into custody on a charge of indecent assault against a hospital patient. The alleged incident occurred on August 28 at University Medical Center (UMC), where the patient was being treated for an epileptic episode. The suspect, identified as Dr. Edward Michelson, was booked at the El Paso County Detention Facility and released the same day after posting a $100,000 bond.
Alleged assault inside University Medical Center
According to the arrest affidavit, the patient entered the emergency department semi-conscious after a seizure. While she was fluctuating between awareness and unconsciousness, she reported seeing an unfamiliar white male entering her room. The man was later identified as Dr. Michelson. The patient alleges that he lifted the edge of the bed sheet and her hospital gown, then made unwanted contact with her body. She asked in Spanish, “Why are you doing this to me? This has nothing to do with epilepsy” a statement that was entered into the court record.
The patient further claimed that the physician was not wearing medical gloves during the encounter, an omission that heightened her sense of vulnerability. She later told deputies that she felt scared, unsafe, and wished to leave the hospital immediately. A family member, outraged by the alleged touch, confronted the doctor, demanding an explanation. Michelson reportedly denied any wrongdoing, insisting he was merely examining the abdominal area before walking away.
Investigation, surveillance footage, and legal actions
El Paso County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at UMC around 7 p.m. on the night of August 28 in response to a reported sexual assault. Initial hallway camera footage showed the doctor entering the patient’s room alone, pulling the curtains closed, and remaining inside for roughly two minutes. Because the curtains obscured the view, investigators obtained a targeted warrant to access the trauma-room cameras.
The interior footage revealed Michelson adjusting a blanket, checking the patient’s responsiveness by opening one eye, and then allegedly placing his hands on her without gloving. The video captured the doctor quickly withdrawing his hands as the patient turned her head toward him, after which he exited the room. Hospital policy states that any examination of a patient’s genital area must be performed by at least two staff members, a protocol that was not followed in this case.
Hospital and university response, licensing implications
University Medical Center issued a statement emphasizing that patient safety is its utmost priority and that the provider involved is a contractor, not a direct employee. The hospital suspended Michelson pending the outcome of both internal and third-party investigations and pledged full cooperation with law-enforcement agencies.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, where Michelson served as the department chair for emergency medicine, also confirmed his suspension from academic duties. Both institutions declined to comment further while the investigations remain active. Despite the criminal charge, the Texas Medical Board listed Michelson’s medical license as active through May , with no disciplinary restrictions recorded as of October 7.
Legal experts note that, under Texas law, an indecent assault charge against a licensed health-care provider can be elevated to a state-jail felony when the act occurs during a medical encounter that falls outside accepted standards of care. A conviction could carry up to two years in a state jail facility and a fine of up to $10,000, though it would not automatically place the offender on the state sex-offender registry.
As the case progresses, the focus remains on determining whether the alleged conduct violated professional standards and how the findings will affect Michelson’s standing with the Texas Medical Board and his future in medical education.
