A Houston anesthesiologist is off the job after state regulators abruptly pulled his license when investigators say they uncovered images of child sexual abuse inside his home. Dr. An Q. Van, 42, was arrested on Feb. 12 and charged with possession of child pornography, according to court records. The emergency move by the Texas Medical Board takes him out of practice while both the criminal case and medical disciplinary proceedings play out.
According to state records, the investigation that led to Van’s arrest began in 2025 and escalated when Houston police executed a search warrant at his residence on Feb. 12. Investigators say they found an external hard drive hidden inside a toilet tank that held more than 50 images of child sexual abuse. Van was arrested that same day, then released after posting an $80,000 bond, and is scheduled for arraignment on April 16, court records state. The suspension order also notes that the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children alerted Houston police after a social media platform flagged material tied to the case, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Investigative records state that Van told authorities he had worked at Houston Anesthesia for about seven months and had held a Texas medical license since 2015. His attorney, Paul Doyle, said in an email that he “plans to fight the accusations against Dr. Van in court, not in the press,” according to the Houston Chronicle. The medical board’s order also notes that Van had no prior disciplinary history with the agency before this suspension.
Medical Board Action
A disciplinary panel of the Texas Medical Board voted to temporarily suspend Van’s license at a meeting last week, concluding that an immediate restriction was necessary while the criminal investigation moves forward. Temporary suspension orders are the board’s fastest way to limit a doctor’s practice when it believes patients could be at risk, and they run alongside longer, more formal hearings. The agency explains how these emergency orders and expedited proceedings work on its enforcement page at the Texas Medical Board.
Investigation Timeline and International Angle
The suspension order traces the case back to digital reports and lead-generation systems that did not stop at the U.S. border. Investigators say a potential victim was identified overseas, which added an international layer to the probe. Online platforms typically send suspected child sexual abuse material to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children through its CyberTipline, which then routes tips to law enforcement agencies for follow up. Details on that process are available through NCMEC’s CyberTipline.
Legal Next Steps
Van currently faces state charges of possession of child pornography and, according to court records cited in news reports, is due back in court for arraignment on April 16. The criminal case and the medical board matter will move forward on separate tracks; a criminal conviction could lead to prison time and fines, while the board can impose professional penalties up to and including permanent revocation of his license, regardless of the outcome in criminal court. Under board rules, Van has the right to seek administrative review of the temporary suspension.
Why This Matters
The case highlights how criminal investigators, tech platforms and professional regulators increasingly intersect when allegations involve licensed health professionals. Reports routed through NCMEC can trigger complex, multi jurisdictional inquiries that reach from social media servers to local police and then to state boards that oversee doctors. The Texas Medical Board says it receives thousands of complaints each year and can move quickly when it believes a physician’s continued practice may pose a danger to patients. Those emergency actions are designed to prioritize public safety while the slower gears of the criminal courts and administrative hearings turn. For more on the board’s policies and prior disciplinary actions, see the enforcement section of the Texas Medical Board.
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