U-M resident physician had child porn at hospital and home, police say
A resident physician at University of Michigan Health System who is facing child pornography charges is accused of keeping illegal images of children at his home and at University of Michigan Hospital.
Stephen Douglas Jenson, 36, of Pittsfield Township, is out on a promise to appear after being arraigned Saturday morning at the Washtenaw County Jail on four counts of possessing child sexually abusive material.
Jenson, who is in his fourth year studying internal medicine and pediatrics, could not be reached for comment this afternoon. His attorney, Joe Simon, declined comment.
University police spokeswoman Diane Brown said today that the investigation began Nov. 18 when hospital security staff reported they had suspicions of a resident physician possessing child porn.
A formal investigation was launched three days later, Brown said, and child porn was ultimately found on a USB drive that had been used on computer equipment kept in a restricted area at the hospital.
Jenson was among a number of employees who had access to that equipment, Brown said. On Dec. 2, police executed a search warrant at Jenson's home and seized computers and other equipment, recovering more child porn, police said.
University police arrested Jenson at his home Friday morning. Brown said the investigation is ongoing, but there is no evidence Jenson had contact with any of the children in the images. Jenson remains employed, but his clinical privileges have been suspended, said Kara Gavin, a health system spokeswoman. Records show Jenson's annual salary is roughly $50,000.
Magistrate Mark Nelson released Jenson on a promise to appear, provided he complies with a number of bond conditions. Those conditions include that Jenson surrender his passport, wear a GPS monitoring device, not contact children, not use the Internet and not travel out of state without permission from the court.
Each count of possessing child sexually abusive material is punishable, upon conviction, by up to four years in prison.
Jenson is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing Dec. 28.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Barb
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 11:21 p.m.
U of M needs to monitor all employees computers no facebook should be allowed either, they are getting paid to do work
Jean-Luc and Johnnie
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 10:05 p.m.
My partner was in the U of M hospital often in the past 4 years and was treated by Dr Jenson more than once. Dr Jenson was always very friendly and professional with us. I am sure all this mess is just a very bad misunderstanding and the "police" probably found medical material they did not understand. We should not "crucify" anyone until we know all the facts.
a2citizen
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 11:17 p.m.
I was once the unfortunate recipient of child porn sent anonymously. Believe me, it cannot be mistaken for medical material.
MjC
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
What has become of these poor exploited children :-(
KINGofSKA
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
First off, you know what you're doing is illegal, so why take it into the work place? Second, I'm glad they got this guy early. Who knows what he could have done behind closed doors with a patient?
Dog Guy
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 4:14 p.m.
Remember that the accused is innocent until proven guilty in court. But it is possible that the parking structure our tenure-track mayor is building for UM Hospital may attract some undesirables to Ann Arbor.
glimmertwin
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 2:13 p.m.
Ba-Bye.
BhavanaJagat
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 2:11 p.m.
What is Man? : I read this story about a young medical resident to understand the nature of man. It is rational to think that a man must be held accountable for his actions. Does it make institutions to avoid accountablity? University of Michigan,and University of Michigan Hospital System have accountability for the training that they impart to residents and other students seeking careers in medical profession and patient care. If the University and the Hospital System have taken care to define what is man and have understanding of human nature, they would have taken steps to include moral training as a basic requirement to prepare people to undertake the tasks of providing patient care. I define the complete human organism as a physical, mental, social, moral, and spiritual being. The Hospital that is involved in providing health care must pay attention to all the aspects of man's well-being. This story reveals that the Hospital is not involved in imparting training to address the issues of mental, social, moral, and spiritual well-being of its patients. The judicial system can only punish people for their actions and it is not involved in training people. People may argue that it is immoral to look at images of naked children involved in sexual activity. I contend that it is immoral to see the nakedness of people and it is imperative that there must be moral training and preparation to guide medical care providers to examine nakedness of the people to whom they provide care. If such moral training is provided, a resident would not be spending time at work or at home to derive pleasure viewing images of naked children. I grew up in a society where I have often encountered naked children, and the sight always makes me to reflect about issues like poverty, nutrition, housing, clothing, sanitation, and other services that the children need. In the practice of Clinical Medicine, the dictum is "Eyes see What the Mind Knows."
Jordan Miller
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 12:08 p.m.
First, the fact that these two stories happened so close together does not show any sort of rampant sex epidemic among the doctors of Ann Arbor. It's a sad coincidence. But when's the last time you heard a story like this? And I doubt you'll hear another any time soon. Also, let's try to keep this in perspective. In both cases, the accusations are unsettling and downright... Disgusting. But they're still only accusations, so let's not put anyone in the stocks until he/she has been proven guilty. Although it's frightening to think that someone who would be sexually stimulated by looking at children would have inimate, daily access to them, in neither case did the physician physically harm a child. I'm sure that is being investigated thoroughly.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 4:38 a.m.
Might help readers if "someone" found a source from one of the agencies trying to help the victims (children) who would offer insight into what happens to the kids who are used to "entertain" pedophiles. All the attention tends to focus on the pedophiles - I mean those who are caught. One can only wonder how adults come to profit from taking photos and videos of children undergoing such horrific experiences. There's got to be a "system" in place, even if it's the equivalent of "home meth labs." And since the Internet seems to be the main conduit, this brings up the question of how that's done without detection. There's different kinds of distribution systems which are both profitable and legal but closely controlled to prevent criminal use. Does anyone else wonder why the Internet lacks such oversight?
slave2work
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.
I truly feel that with the speed all our technology has advanced, It has far exceeded or laws and ability to control the illegal websites..
Jordan Miller
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 12:15 p.m.
1. There are systems put in place. Most of this stuff comes from overseas, and yes, there are plenty of law enforcement efforts to curb it. Just like anything else. But think about the resources put into fighting the "war on drugs," and there is plenty of cocaine coming right through our borders. 2. Do you realize how gigantic the Internet is? Really? And yes, there are plenty of agencies also working online to investigate this sort of activity. They just aren't calling you at home to tell you about it.
CincoDeMayo
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 4:21 a.m.
Thank you to the staff at the hospital who apparently reported their suspicions.
roz
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 2:35 a.m.
Why did this story not mention the fact that he was a PEDIATRICIAN in the headline or until the third paragraph. I'm just relieved that this arrest was made before his career went any further.
Michigan Man
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:52 p.m.
Physician supervision seems to be lacking in Ann Arbor. Two cases of physician providers with ethical, sexual and very possibly criminal issues in back to back months. These are just the cases that we know about. How many other cases do we not know about in the Ann Arbor community? I thought the Washtenaw County Medical Society had an Impaired Physician program of some sort? Perhaps a program lending support/clinical talent/intervention to "at risk" physicians needs to be developed or more effectively communicated to Ann Arbor area physicians. Leaving physicians to monitor themselves in an effective and reasonable manner seems tepid as a strategy to protect innocent patients from physicians who pose risks to Ann Arbor areq patients. I sincerely hope these two recent cases motivate the Ann Arbor medical community to reassess and activate a more results oriented program of patient safety from predator physicians. All will win with this approach.
seldon
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 3:10 p.m.
Oh, come on. Do you have any idea how many physicians there are in this city?
DennisP
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 6:15 a.m.
At this point, I wouldn't compare the medical profession in Washtenaw to the plight of the Catholic prelate problem. The prelates (bishops, etc) actively concealed the actions of pedophiles they discovered within their ranks in the US, Ireland and elsewhere. That's what Penn State allegedly did also. Here there are no insinuations that any organization concealed pedophilic behavior on the part of anyone. What it seems to me is that pedophiles are very good at finding themselves in professions of trust that bring them close to children, they are good at duplicity--disarming and deceiving those who are closest to the. Finally, they are probably pathological liars--capable of convincing themselves their own deceptions are true. That makes a pedophile insidious. But, when discovered, there is no justification or rationale for a cover-up. Here, there are no known allegations of any cover up or delay in reporting suspicions to the authorities and police action was immediate.
a2citizen
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 4:59 a.m.
"... Leaving physicians to monitor themselves ..." Who monitors burger flippers? Auto mechanics? School teachers? Who monitors the monitors? Maybe physicians show up more here because there are three major hospitals in the area, so therefore, more physicians living in the area. If you think physicians are the problem in A2, go to this link and punch in your address. Physicians are the least of our problem. <a href="http://www.familywatchdog.us/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.familywatchdog.us/</a>
Michigan Man
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 2:50 a.m.
Silly Sally - no need to CAPITALIZE your words for emphasis - Regardless of size, they make little sense - some in Ann Arbor appear to be easily influenced, swayed and convinced by those in the Ann Arbor medical community to profess to be helping their patients, but by recent free press accounts are perverts. My condolences to those who are misguided in their ability to think and draw reasonable conclusions. Please join me, however, in congratulating local law enforcement for protecting the public health of all Ann Arborites as a result of filing criminal charges against these two men who have violated the scared community trust.
Silly Sally
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 1:05 a.m.
Justcurious - I agree, looking out one's window does seem benign, that is why we must assume innocense until we hear evidence to the contrary. I mention it to take exception to his comment that there are "Two cases of physician providers with ethical, sexual..." It is just too soon to know, although I now know more about the UM doctor and it appears worse. I'm amazed - using a work computer. Painting an entire profession, be it medical doctors, Catholic priests, or ethnic minorities, for the actions of a few, is just plain wrong. But the media does it every day.
justcurious
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 12:45 a.m.
Silly Sally - your comment, oft repeated "One man was looking outside the wondow of his of own home." sounds so benign, yet may be a profound mischaracterization of what actually happened. We don't know!! But I totally agree that these two cases show no obvious trend in physician's behavior, even Ann Arbor physician's behavior. If these folks are indeed pedophiles, they join those who come from all walks f life in being pedophiles. The two men I personally knew were the nicest, most giving men you would ever want to meet. None of their friends suspected anything.
Silly Sally
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 12:36 a.m.
THis is the exact same tired comment as yesterday that got little support. in contrast I will give my same reply to it, AGAIN. The actions of a few tarnishing the many. Most doctors are not involved. They are still innocent until convicted. We have no good evidence. One man was looking outside the wondow of his of own home Comments such as "..Medical community in Ann Arbor seeming to have some serious character issues of late.." is somewhat similar to what the Catholic Church encountered a decade ago. Just as the vast majority of priests and bishops had nothing to do with this topic, neither do the vast majority of the "medical community." There is nothing to discuss. Its little different than avoiding an ethinic group because one of 2 members were caught in a crime. Is this what the Ann Arbor public needs?
RRinAA
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:23 p.m.
Targeted ad placement is all well and good, but some human intervention is obviously needed... "Stephen Douglas Jenson, 36, of Pittsfield Township, is out on a promise to appear after being arraigned Saturday morning at the Washtenaw County Jail on four counts of possessing child sexually abusive material." Inline ad: [ Let your child have fun and travel in style! Learn more ]
roz
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 2:33 a.m.
I hate laughing at this, but I can't help it.
1bigbud
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:19 p.m.
This type of story should be scary to any one who has contact with Children in their profession, job, or any volunteer work they may do.
Lee1968
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:10 p.m.
I wonder if having the photos was part of his study as a pediatrician? I mean It seems like it's possible the photos could be for medical students to learn what to look for in child abuse????
Lee1968
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.
I guess I have read enough news stories to know that many facts are omitted, giving the reader a uninformed opinion of whats taken place.
roz
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 2:32 a.m.
I'm sure that photos of symptoms of abuse aren't anything like photos of sexual activity with and upon children.
justcurious
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:42 p.m.
Do you really believe that the people who investigated this would not know the difference? That is a stretch.
Elaine F. Owsley
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
His family must be SO proud!!!
1bigbud
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 10:18 p.m.
I knew my first commet would be deleted I talked about a form of punisment I know i should not But darn it Something must be done A Dr. or not
SMC
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 9:32 p.m.
"child porn was ultimately found on computer equipment kept in a restricted area at the hospital." Glad to see our tax dollars are well-spent by the university. Has no one there ever heard that websites can be blocked?
seldon
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
Website blocking is neither effective at preventing people who want to go to "bad" websites, nor sufficiently targeted to only block "bad" websites.
A2comments
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:31 p.m.
and child porn was ultimately found on a USB drive that had been used on computer equipment kept in a restricted area at the hospital... USB drive, not website.
a2citizen
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
If the child porn was sent in an email the filters wouldn't prevent the transmission.
julieswhimsies
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.
"First do no harm" This man was preparing himself to be in a profession where he would have intimate access to children! I hope they nail this alleged predator.
justcurious
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 8:46 p.m.
If this is true, this man was definitely not very smart to think that he could do anything remotely like that on U of M computers. Being a former employee of the U of M, I can see no way that anyone using their computers would not know that their activity was monitored. It is common knowledge and one of the things that employees are notified of. What I don't understand is why he was not put on leave. This puzzles me.
Matt Cooper
Sat, Dec 24, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
So...My opinions are based on nearly 11 years working there while yours are based on a couple visits to the ER. Ok. You win LOL. Oh, and by the way, just so you know...If the UM doc was communicating information to any other health care professional in the context of taking care of you or passing along the continued care of you(such as relaying information to your family doc, or to another receiving hospital in the event of a transfer to another hospital) this is perfectly permissible under HIPAA laws. Your friend looking up your records for any reason other than in the direct context of being YOUR nurse and caring for you on a scheduled shift, and not just as your friend, is a terminable offence under HIPAA as well as UM policy, and if this is the case she was rightly terminated. I know you obviously know HIPAA laws intimately, and I am just as obviously naive and know nothing of which I speak, but you might want to upgrade your own knowledge base re: HIPAA laws and where, how and to whom they apply. Or not, since you already know these things. Right?
julieswhimsies
Wed, Dec 21, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
Dr. Cooper, I got my information by having my own records audited. A neighbor, who is a U of M nurse was fire, as a result, and a U of M doc accessed my records and repeated info from my records to a non U of M physician. Interestingly, the U of M chose not to take action against this saintly doc. Cooper, I believe you are QUITE naive about the U of M Computer system...or ANY computer system, for that matter. Everyone's information is out there. If someone wants it badly enough, they'll get it, Doctors at the U of M play around with HIPAA laws fast and loose in the Emergency room all of the time. I have been in the ER and heard mine and other people's most intimate details spoken about quite loudly for all to hear. Straighten up you act Uof M. You are not above the law.
Matt Cooper
Wed, Dec 21, 2011 : 6:02 a.m.
I'm wondering where you get your information julies. I have worked at the UM for nearly 11 years and as are all UM eployees I am well aware of the penalties for looking at any patients records without a valid and proper reason to do so: Termination of employment. in accordance with HIPAA laws, the U of M doesn't play around when it comes to patient confidentiality and information security, and I have personally known 2 people who were fired for the reaons above. To say the system is "VERY porous", is, in my opinion and from my 11 years experience working there, extremely inaccurate.
julieswhimsies
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
A lot of people have access to your medical records. Believe it! You can ask Patient Relations for an "audit" to find out just who has accessed your records. The computer system is VERY porous. Scary.
Linda Peck
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 10:33 p.m.
The employed part probably refers to the fact that he may be on leave and getting a paycheck until the matter is resolved, because he has not been tried yet, etc., but not having privileges at the hospital means he cannot work. At least, that is my understanding of it.
justcurious
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 9:05 p.m.
donderop - "remains employed".
donderop
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 8:51 p.m.
"Jenson remains employed, but his clinical privileges have been suspended."