Robert Hadden, the former Columbia University gynecologist accused of sexually abusing 301 patients

Between 1987 and 2012, Robert Hadden was a gynecologist at Columbia University. In those years, he committed hundreds of sexual assaults against women while carrying out medical examinations on them. Now the sexual predator faces a new trial in a court of New York, this time in the civil sphere. This is the story.

This is the third time that a lawsuit has been filed against the university it’s against Hadden, 64 years old. At the end of July this year, the doctor He was sentenced to 20 years in prison “for enticing and inducing four victims to travel across the state to engage in illegal sexual relations.”

READ TOO: How a fingerprint on a note led to the rescue of Charlotte Sena, the girl kidnapped in New York

Before, in 2016, He pleaded guilty to two charges related to sexual abusefor which he lost his medical license.

“Under the pretext of medical treatment, Roberto Hadden sexually abused and assaulted several patients for approximately 25 years, exploiting them in vulnerable moments for their own sexual gratification. Thanks to the tireless work of the career prosecutors in this District Attorney’s Office, Hadden will rightfully spend decades in federal prison. “We thank and commend the victims who bravely came forward to share their stories and ensure their attacker faced justice,” said the federal prosecutor Damian Williams in July this year.

Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to an image showing Robert Hadden during a press conference to announce his arrest and indictment, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (João Minchillo/)

It should be noted that in 2021, Columbia University agreed to pay 72 million dollars in compensation for 79 patients. A year later he paid 165 million dollars to another 147 victims under the same concept.

In the new civil action heard this Tuesday, the lawyers highlight that the administrators, nurses and doctors of the Columbia University Medical Center where Hadden practiced They hid the sexual abuse committed by the former incologist for years.

The action, filed before the New York State Supreme Court by lawyer Anthony T. DiPietrocollect the cases of 301 women who claim to have suffered physical and emotional abuse while under medical care.

TO LOOK: The million-dollar settlement through which JPMorgan settled a sex trafficking case related to Jeffrey Epstein

According to CNN, the plaintiffs allege that the institution was involved in a “Cover-up of the Most Prolific Serial Sexual Predator in New York State History.”

“I have heard from hundreds of survivors who are now learning that they are not alone in the abuse they suffered while in the care of Columbia University.”DiPietro said in a statement. “Patients should not find out about this from the media. “This information must come directly from Columbia, which has access to patient information,” added.

“Hadden was protected by Colombia who, despite having been warned by patients, did nothing more than cover up the abuse of Hadden and lying to the public, and sometimes worked to discredit survivors while interfering in the criminal process of Hadden. “I believe this is one of the largest corporate cover-ups in the history of New York State,” DiPietro continued.

The lawyer believes that more women will continue to report, discovering that they are not alone. It is estimated that Hadden treated more than 10,000 patients during his 25 years who worked at Columbia, according to Univision.

Dr. Robert Hadden’s victims stand before a federal court on July 25, 2023. (AP/John Minchillo).

Univision reminds that Hadden was arrested on June 29, 2012 after licking a patient. She immediately called 911.but senior officials at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital They allowed him to return to work. Upon his return, on July 3, 2012, Hadden assaulted at least eight more women at various university clinics.

Shortly thereafter, Univision continues, six more women came forward with similar accusations, and two years later, in 2014, he was charged with five counts of criminal sexual acts, two counts of forcible contact, and two counts of sexual abuse.

Among the victims were Evelyn Yangwife Andrew Yangbusinessman in the technology sector who aspired to the presidency of the United States in 2020 for the Democratic Party.

Evelyn Yang. (CNN).

In January of that year, Evelyn Yang told CNN that Hadden He abused her in 2012 when she was seven months pregnant. At first, she didn’t dare tell her husband.

“He undressed me and examined me internally, without gloves,” the woman told CNN. “I knew this was wrong. “I knew it was an attack,” he said.

After this episode, he decided to change gynecologist.

Given the numerous and frequent complaints from victims of Hadden, the FBI became involved and led an investigation. The prosecution called him ” white-coated predator and accused him of abusing his patients between the early 1990s and 2012, according to Univisión.

Finally, when announcing the sentence last July, Judge Richard Berman said he had “never seen anything so horrible, unimaginable or depraved.” like this case.

Hadden He also spoke a few words during this year’s trial: “I’m so sorry for all the pain I caused.” he said sobbing before lowering her head and sitting down again, according to an AP report. Then he took off his glasses and wiped the tears from his eyes.

After serving your sentence, Hadden He will be on probation for the rest of his life.

Nine victims testified at this year’s trial against Hadden and described how he sexually abused them during gynecological treatments at major hospitals, including the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

The AP agency reported that Diane Monson He said he wrote a long letter to Columbia University in early 1994, detailing the abuse he suffered during an encounter with Hadden in 1993. She said the university responded with a letter and an employee promised to ask the doctor about the matter and contact her, but never did.

More than two decades later, Monson saw a television report in which Evelyn Yang recounted abuse similar to the ones she suffered.

Laurie Maldonadogyneco-obstetric patient Hadden Between 2003 and 2012, he testified as a witness in the trial against the doctor.

“Every appointment was an opportunity for him to commit sexual abuse and assault,” he said. Maldonado in an interview with the portal Democracynow.org.

Laurie Maldonado.

“I saw Hadden for the first time in 2003. I was in my early twenties. And, you know, I selected Hadden to be my gynecologist because I was in New York Presbyterian Hospital, It was a prestigious hospital. And that’s how I started this relationship until 2012. Afterwards, For nearly a decade, Hadden was my doctor. I, like many women, entrusted my care to him. I trusted him with my well-being. I thought he had my best interest in mind. AND “He was a serial sexual predator.”said the woman.

“Robert Hadden sexually assaulted me two days before my son was born. I went for my check-up. My ex-husband was in the room with me. And we were just thrilled. I remember going to the bathroom and my mucus plug had fallen out, so I was very close to labor and we were so excited. AND Hadden He entered the room and had a sparkle in his eyes. And I thought that flash was because he was excited, like me, about the birth, but now I realize thatit was an opportunity for him to commit sexual assault”. continuous Maldonado.

“And then he said, ‘Oh, one more thing. I need to check on you. And he took me behind the curtain, away from my husband, and placed me on the examination table. And what I thought was, you know, I was going to check my cervix just to make sure the baby was okay. But that’s not what happened. What happened was that Hadden used his hands to hurt me and he put his fist inside my vagina. And it was so painful that I screamed and cried in pain. And then he abruptly left the room,” he said. Maldonado.

“My husband at that time approached me and examined me. He said to me, ‘Are you okay?’ And I said, ‘No, I’m not okay.’ And then he asked me a very important question. He said, ‘Do you feel violated?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ And I think I felt violated and confused, because I didn’t know if this was a medical procedure or what it was about. I couldn’t tolerate it. It was very difficult for me to sit down. I couldn’t eat. “I was really disturbed.”

Source: Elcomercio