NEW YORK — Elected officials were at Columbia University on Tuesday morning demanding to know why the school hasn’t investigated one of its former gynecologists who was convicted of sexually assaulting hundreds of patients.
The officials and dozens of survivors are accusing the school of covering up and protecting former OB-GYN Robert Hadden. They say the university never notified patients about the loss of his medical license and history of abuse.
A group of demonstrators made their way to the president’s office on campus, delivering a letter signed by 30 elected officials. The letter urged Columbia to initiate an investigation into the prolonged abuse of patients by Hadden, spanning over 25 years. The demonstrators demanded that those implicated in the matter be held accountable.
Back in July, a judge sentenced Hadden to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting patients during medical exams over the course of decades. The sentence came following a federal conviction in January on charges of luring women across state lines to abuse them.
READ MORE: N.Y. judge jails ex-gynecologist who abused hundreds of women: “Predator in a white coat”
According to officials, Hadden was employed at two esteemed hospitals in Manhattan, namely Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York Presbyterian. In 2016, he voluntarily gave up his medical license and, through a plea agreement, managed to escape imprisonment at the state level.
READ MORE: Columbia University agrees to $165 million settlement with 147 former patients of OB-GYN Robert Hadden
Survivors, who claimed to have experienced abuse during routine exams, were interviewed by CBS New York.
Laurie Kanyok sadly stated that she had made a distress call to 911 during her postpartum appointment in 2012. She expressed her disappointment that it had taken 11 years to reach the present situation.
Marissa Hoechstetter revealed, “Robert Hadden assaulted me during my pregnancy when I was expecting my twin daughters, who are currently 12 years old and attending seventh grade. I experienced another assault during a postpartum visit, after which I decided not to return.”
FLASHBACK: Former NYC gynecologist accused of sexually abusing patients now facing federal charges
The Adult Survivors Act, which became effective in November of last year, allows survivors of sexual abuse to file claims for cases that exceed the statute of limitations within a one-year timeframe. However, the lookback window will soon come to a close, making it crucial for all patients treated by Hadden to be notified, as survivors emphasize the urgency of this matter.
CBS New York contacted Columbia for a comment, but did not receive an immediate response.
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- Sexual Abuse
- Columbia University
