Latest news with #RobertHadden
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
After $1bn settlement, doctor's sexual assault victims question Columbia University's inaction
It was a shocking scandal involving the betrayal of one of the most sacred bonds in medicine, as one of New York's top doctors abused hundreds of women under his care. Now, after a fresh settlement agreement last week from Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian hospital, the compensation for the crimes of Robert Hadden has approached almost a billion dollars and raised further questions as to how he was able to carry out his crimes for so long. The latest $750m deal covered two decades of sexual assaults by the gynecologist for more than two decades at New York hospitals. His victims had already received more than $200m from his former employers, who were accused of knowing about his behavior and allowing him to continue practicing medicine. Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs's sex-trafficking trial begins with jury selection in New York 'It's a clear message that we're going to hold institutions accountable,' Laurie Maldonado, who spent about 10 years as one of Hadden's patients and was sexually assaulted by him, said of the settlement. 'Don't protect a serial predator; protect your patients.' In 2023, Hadden was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for luring patients to travel across state lines so that he could sexually abuse them. From 1987 until 2012, Hadden sexually assaulted and abused female patients during appointments and deliveries at Columbia University Irving medical center and NewYork-Presbyterian hospital, according to federal prosecutors. His victims even included some of New York City's most prominent women, including Evelyn Yang, wife of former presidential candidate and New York mayoral hopeful Andrew Yang. Hadden conducted an emergency delivery for Eva Santos Veloz in 2008 and checked her without gloves, using significant force and almost his entire fist, she said. 'It was a really traumatic experience,' said Santos Veloz, who was then 18 years old and scared to disclose the sexual assault because of her immigration status. Maldonado, who teaches and studies single-parent families and policy, said she saw Hadden from 2003 until 2012, during which time he engaged in grooming behavior by finding ways to get her to undress and asking inappropriate questions about her sex life. 'He really used his knowledge to make it seem like he was the only doctor for you,' said Maldonado, who had a miscarriage. In 2011, two days before she gave birth to her son, Hadden did a dilation check during which he examined her cervix with enough force to make her cry out in pain. 'It's supposed to be the happiest, joyful time of being a mother, and you feel like that moment was taken away from you,' Maldonado said. 'I feel like the harm and the trauma is still in my body.' In 2012, New York police arrested Hadden after receiving a call from a patient who said he licked her during an exam. Despite that allegation, a Columbia administrator allowed him to continue practicing medicine as long as he had a chaperone with him while examining patients and complied with university and hospital policies, ProPublica reported. He continued to sexually assault patients for five weeks before Columbia suspended him, and he later retired. In 2013, the university informed Hadden's patients that he had closed his practice but did not provide a reason, according to a letter in the ProPublica report. In 2016, prosecutors agreed to a deal in which Hadden would plead guilty to a felony and misdemeanor, register as a sex offender and surrender his medical license but not serve time in prison. After more women abused by Hadden came forward in 2020, federal prosecutors filed new charges, which resulted in the conviction and 20-year-prison sentence. Columbia University did not apologize until ProPublica published its report in 2023, according to the news organization. Before the settlement this week, the hospitals agreed to pay $71m to 79 patients in 2021 and $165m to 147 patients in 2022. The new deal provides $750m to 576 patients. 'This has been 13 years in the making, and I'm grateful for all my clients who have come forward to hold not just Hadden accountable, but more importantly, his enablers at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian hospital,' said Anthony T DiPietro, an attorney for the plaintiffs. A Columbia spokesperson responded to an interview request with a statement that the university was 'implementing a multi-pronged plan, including an external investigation, a survivors' settlement fund' and new 'patient safety policies and programs to address the abuses of Robert Hadden'. 'We deeply regret the pain that his patients suffered, and this settlement is another step forward in our ongoing work and commitment to repair harm and support survivors. We commend the survivors for their bravery in coming forward,' the statement continued. A NewYork-Presbyterian spokesperson responded to the request by stating that Columbia would be 'issuing all statements on this issue'. Santos Veloz, who now has three children, called the most recent huge settlement 'a big win'. 'No matter how much they wanted to cover it up, we were able to work together to hold [Columbia] accountable in some way,' said Santos Veloz, who hopes to become an immigration attorney. Still, Santos Veloz said she is waiting to see if Columbia follows through with its plan to better protect patients. 'We could get all the money in the world, but if this continues to happen, it means nothing,' she said. Meanwhile, DiPietro, the plaintiffs' attorney, now representing hundreds of women in lawsuits against Dr Barry Brock, a gynecologist at Cedars-Sinai medical center in Los Angeles, who allegedly sexually abused patients, and against NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell medical center and Northwell Health, which employed Darius Paduch, a urologist sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing patients, including minors. 'The Haddens of the world are not the problem; they are just a symptom,' DiPietro. 'The problem is the toxic culture at these medical institutions that lie, cover up and expose more patients to known serial sexual predators.' • Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at
The Guardian
10-05-2025
- The Guardian
After $1bn settlement, doctor's sexual assault victims question Columbia University's inaction
It was a shocking scandal involving the betrayal of one of the most sacred bonds in medicine, as one of New York's top doctors abused hundreds of women under his care. Now, after a fresh settlement agreement last week from Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian hospital, the compensation for the crimes of Robert Hadden has approached almost a billion dollars and raised further questions as to how he was able to carry out his crimes for so long. The latest $750m deal covered two decades of sexual assaults by the gynecologist for more than two decades at New York hospitals. His victims had already received more than $200m from his former employers, who were accused of knowing about his behavior and allowing him to continue practicing medicine. 'It's a clear message that we're going to hold institutions accountable,' Laurie Maldonado, who spent about 10 years as one of Hadden's patients and was sexually assaulted by him, said of the settlement. 'Don't protect a serial predator; protect your patients.' In 2023, Hadden was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for luring patients to travel across state lines so that he could sexually abuse them. From 1987 until 2012, Hadden sexually assaulted and abused female patients during appointments and deliveries at Columbia University Irving medical center and NewYork-Presbyterian hospital, according to federal prosecutors. His victims even included some of New York City's most prominent women, including Evelyn Yang, wife of former presidential candidate and New York mayoral hopeful Andrew Yang. Hadden conducted an emergency delivery for Eva Santos Veloz in 2008 and checked her without gloves, using significant force and almost his entire fist, she said. 'It was a really traumatic experience,' said Santos Veloz, who was then 18 years old and scared to disclose the sexual assault because of her immigration status. Maldonado, who teaches and studies single-parent families and policy, said she saw Hadden from 2003 until 2012, during which time he engaged in grooming behavior by finding ways to get her to undress and asking inappropriate questions about her sex life. 'He really used his knowledge to make it seem like he was the only doctor for you,' said Maldonado, who had a miscarriage. In 2011, two days before she gave birth to her son, Hadden did a dilation check during which he examined her cervix with enough force to make her cry out in pain. 'It's supposed to be the happiest, joyful time of being a mother, and you feel like that moment was taken away from you,' Maldonado said. 'I feel like the harm and the trauma is still in my body.' In 2012, New York police arrested Hadden after receiving a call from a patient who said he licked her during an exam. Despite that allegation, a Columbia administrator allowed him to continue practicing medicine as long as he had a chaperone with him while examining patients and complied with university and hospital policies, ProPublica reported. He continued to sexually assault patients for five weeks before Columbia suspended him, and he later retired. In 2013, the university informed Hadden's patients that he had closed his practice but did not provide a reason, according to a letter in the ProPublica report. In 2016, prosecutors agreed to a deal in which Hadden would plead guilty to a felony and misdemeanor, register as a sex offender and surrender his medical license but not serve time in prison. After more women abused by Hadden came forward in 2020, federal prosecutors filed new charges, which resulted in the conviction and 20-year-prison sentence. Columbia University did not apologize until ProPublica published its report in 2023, according to the news organization. Before the settlement this week, the hospitals agreed to pay $71m to 79 patients in 2021 and $165m to 147 patients in 2022. The new deal provides $750m to 576 patients. Sign up to First Thing Our US morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'This has been 13 years in the making, and I'm grateful for all my clients who have come forward to hold not just Hadden accountable, but more importantly, his enablers at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian hospital,' said Anthony T DiPietro, an attorney for the plaintiffs. A Columbia spokesperson responded to an interview request with a statement that the university was 'implementing a multi-pronged plan, including an external investigation, a survivors' settlement fund' and new 'patient safety policies and programs to address the abuses of Robert Hadden'. 'We deeply regret the pain that his patients suffered, and this settlement is another step forward in our ongoing work and commitment to repair harm and support survivors. We commend the survivors for their bravery in coming forward,' the statement continued. A NewYork-Presbyterian spokesperson responded to the request by stating that Columbia would be 'issuing all statements on this issue'. Santos Veloz, who now has three children, called the most recent huge settlement 'a big win'. 'No matter how much they wanted to cover it up, we were able to work together to hold [Columbia] accountable in some way,' said Santos Veloz, who hopes to become an immigration attorney. Still, Santos Veloz said she is waiting to see if Columbia follows through with its plan to better protect patients. 'We could get all the money in the world, but if this continues to happen, it means nothing,' she said. Meanwhile, DiPietro, the plaintiffs' attorney, now representing hundreds of women in lawsuits against Dr Barry Brock, a gynecologist at Cedars-Sinai medical center in Los Angeles, who allegedly sexually abused patients, and against NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell medical center and Northwell Health, which employed Darius Paduch, a urologist sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing patients, including minors. 'The Haddens of the world are not the problem; they are just a symptom,' DiPietro. 'The problem is the toxic culture at these medical institutions that lie, cover up and expose more patients to known serial sexual predators.' Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at
Malay Mail
07-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Victims of ‘predator' US gynaecologist secure US$750m landmark settlement
NEW YORK, May 7 — Columbia University and a New York hospital have reached a US$750-million settlement with hundreds of women sexually assaulted by a former gynaecologist, a lawyer for the victims said yesterday. Robert Hadden, described by prosecutors as a 'predator in a white coat,' is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted last year of sexual abuse. Hadden was accused of abusing scores of women between the early 1990s and 2012, including Evelyn Yang, whose husband Andrew Yang ran for president in 2020 as a Democratic Party outsider. Attorney Anthony DiPietro, who represented some of Hadden's victims, said the US$750 million (RM 3.17 billion) settlement with Columbia and New York — Presbyterian Hospital involves 576 of the doctor's former patients. 'This settlement sends a powerful message that we're here to ensure that institutions covering up exploitation and abuse will be held fully accountable for their crimes,' DiPietro said in a statement. Evelyn Yang, who told CNN in 2020 that she was assaulted by Hadden in 2012 while seven months pregnant, and another woman, Marissa Hoechstetter, welcomed the settlement in a joint statement on X. 'Another enormous milestone has been reached in Hadden survivors' long quest for justice,' they said. 'As remarkable as this moment is, we know the numbers represent only a fraction of the reach of Hadden's crimes.' They added that Columbia still had 'significant work to do' to address the cover-up and the systemic issues that enabled 'the most prolific sexual predator in US history.' In a statement, Columbia said it had implemented 'a series of new and updated patient safety policies and programs to address the abuses of Robert Hadden.' Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) previously announced it had reached a US$165-million settlement with 147 of Hadden's patients. Columbia also agreed to a US$71.5-million settlement in 2021 between its hospitals and another 79 of Hadden's patients. — AFP
New Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Victims of 'predator' US doctor reach US$75mil settlement
NEW YORK: Columbia University and a New York hospital have reached a US$750 million settlement with hundreds of women sexually assaulted by a former gynaecologist, a lawyer for the victims said Tuesday. Robert Hadden, described by prosecutors as a "predator in a white coat", is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted last year of sexual abuse. Hadden was accused of abusing scores of women between the early 1990s and 2012, including Evelyn Yang, whose husband Andrew Yang ran for president in 2020 as a Democratic Party outsider. Anthony DiPietro, a solicitor who represented some of Hadden's victims, said the US$750 million settlement with Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital involves 576 of the doctor's former patients. "This settlement sends a powerful message that we're here to ensure that institutions covering up exploitation and abuse will be held fully accountable for their crimes," DiPietro said in a statement. Evelyn Yang, who told CNN in 2020 that she was assaulted by Hadden in 2012 while seven months pregnant, and another woman, Marissa Hoechstetter, welcomed the settlement in a joint statement on X. "Another enormous milestone has been reached in Hadden survivors' long quest for justice," they said. "As remarkable as this moment is, we know the numbers represent only a fraction of the reach of Hadden's crimes." They added that Columbia still had "significant work to do" to address the cover-up and the systemic issues that enabled "the most prolific sexual predator in US history". In a statement, Columbia said it had implemented "a series of new and updated patient safety policies and programmes to address the abuses of Robert Hadden". Columbia University Irving Medical Centre (CUIMC) previously announced it had reached a US$165 million settlement with 147 of Hadden's patients. Columbia also agreed to a US$71.5 million settlement in 2021 between its hospitals and another 79 of Hadden's patients.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Columbia, New York-Presbyterian Hospital settle hundreds of sex abuse claims involving ex-doctor
Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital have agreed to a $750 million settlement of hundreds of sexual abuse claims by patients of disgraced and imprisoned former gynecologist Robert Hadden, bringing total legal payouts in civil cases involving the ex-doctor to over $1 billion, according to the plaintiffs' lawyer. Hadden, now 66, was accused of molesting patients during a decades-long career at prestigious New York City hospitals including Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian. He was convicted by a jury in 2023 of federal sex crime charges and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. The new settlements, approved by a Manhattan judge Monday, come in 576 legal cases against the Ivy League school, the hospital and others over the abuse by Hadden, plaintiffs' attorney Anthony T. DiPietro said. 'This victory is not just for the victims and survivors of Columbia University and The New York-Presbyterian Hospital's cover-up who bravely came forward, but for all of us who entrust medical institutions with our health care,' DiPietro said in statement. 'For far too long, Columbia and New York-Presbyterian have prioritized protecting their reputations over protecting their patients," he said. "This settlement sends a powerful message that we're here to ensure that institutions covering up exploitation and abuse will be held fully accountable for their crimes.' DiPietro said the average payout to plaintiffs from the new settlement will be about $1.3 million. Columbia previously agreed to $277 million in settlements with more than 200 other plaintiffs over Hadden's sexual abuse, he said. Columbia confirmed the settlement but not the amount Tuesday. Lawyers for the school and New York-Presbyterian did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. 'As previously announced, Columbia is implementing a multi-pronged plan, including an external investigation, a survivors' settlement fund, and a series of new and updated patient safety policies and programs to address the abuses of Robert Hadden," the university said in statement responding to an Associated Press message specifically asking about the $750 million deal. 'We deeply regret the pain that his patients suffered, and this settlement is another step forward in our ongoing work and commitment to repair harm and support survivors,' it said. "We commend the survivors for their bravery in coming forward.' New York-Presbyterian referred questions about the settlement to Columbia, saying the school employed Hadden. One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuits, Laurie Maldonado, who sued Columbia, New York-Presbyterian, Hadden and others, said her case was not about money. 'It's about accountability,' she said in a statement provided by DiPietro. "Columbia University enabled sadistic abuse, and now, they've been forced to face the truth. We hope this sends a clear message to every institution: survivors will not be silenced, and those who protect abusers will be held responsible.' The Associated Press does not typically name victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, like Maldonado has. Hadden's accusers also included Evelyn Yang, the wife of former presidential candidate and New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang, who said Hadden abused her when she was pregnant with her first child. During Hadden's criminal trial, nine victims testified about how Hadden molested them during gynecology treatments, starting in the late 1980s, at prominent hospitals. Allegations of misconduct during examinations first surfaced in 2012. Hadden was indicted on state charges in 2014 as women kept coming forward. But in 2016, the office of the Manhattan district attorney at the time, Cyrus Vance Jr., allowed Hadden to plead guilty to two low-level felonies and a misdemeanor in a deal that required him to give up his medical license but did not require jail time and kept him out of the state's sex offender registry. Some of the women who had gone to state prosecutors were outraged, but their stories did not start receiving public attention until the #MeToo movement began gaining steam in 2017. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan got a grand jury indictment against Hadden in 2020, charges based on the fact that some patients at his New York offices had come into the city from other states. In November 2023, Columbia and Columbia University Irving Medical Center announced they would be notifying 6,500 former patients of Hadden of his federal sex crime convictions and giving victims the opportunity to apply for compensation from a $100 million settlement fund. The deadline to apply has been extended to May 15.
