Osteopath faces hearing in sex case

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004 | 9:25 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Osteopathic Medicine has set March 20 for a hearing on a complaint against Las Vegas osteopath Ed Hoffman, who is accused of having sexual relations with two of his patients and prescribing testosterone for himself.

The osteopathic board, meeting Friday in Las Vegas, declined to issue an emergency order suspending the license until the hearing.

Hoffman has practiced in Nevada since 1974. He could not be reached for comment.

Hoffman sought a court order Thursday restraining the board from acting at its Friday meeting. District Judge Michael Douglas refused to issue the order.

Trey Delap, deputy executive director of the board, said the first complaint was filed against Hoffman last year.

The complaint alleges Hoffman had sexual relations with a female patient while both she and her husband were patients of Hoffman. It alleges Hoffman also "engaged in a sexual relationship with another patient on and off for 10 years while having a doctor patient-relationship."

In another case, the board entered a default judgment against Dr. Elliott Turetsky of Las Vegas, who has not practiced for a number of years.

Turetsky was found living in his truck in a parking lot surrounded by garbage, human waste, rotting food, maggots and flies, the board said. He declined to undergo a mental examination as ordered by the board, which then found him in default.