Sexual abusers come in many forms and work in a variety of professions.
Few come close to the extent and severity of the now-convicted sexual predator in a white coat, Robert Hadden.
The former Columbia University gynecologist has victimized potentially thousands of his former patients.
Hadden worked in and was enabled to abuse women by many prestigious Manhattan hospitals.
He sexually abused patients who sought professional medical care.
Since the early 1990s, Hadden sexually abused patients in his medical offices.
His crimes include numerous counts of sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and forcible touching.
After he cruelly lured women including multiple minors past state lines, he also received federal sex trafficking charges.
Hadden is now convicted of federal sex abuse charges and faces several decades behind bars.
Who is Robert Hadden? More importantly, what crimes did he engage in and how was he able sexually abuse women and minors for three decades?
Robert Hadden was a former Columbia University gynecologist. Due to his affiliation with Columbia University, he practiced as an OB/GYN in its affiliated hospitals. These hospitals were the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Robert Hadden graduated from the New York School of Medicine and earned his medical license after graduation. He then began practicing as an OB/GYN after earning his license.
The first complaints of his abuse came early in his career. During this time, victims and office workers accused Hadden of sexually abusing them during pelvic examinations.
Robert Hadden used his authority to take advantage of numerous women including multiple minors. In his trial before a Manhattan Federal Court jury, nine former patients chronicled how Hadden assaulted them sexually.
According to these former patients, Hadden targeted and abused vulnerable patients. He would carry on with his illegal sexual activity after he had full access to a patient’s private areas, within the confines of his medical office.
Most of Hadden’s victims trusted that the doctor would provide professional medical care. Instead, they and many other women endured sexual abuse.
Besides victimizing female patients in New York, Hadden also persuaded women to visit him in his medical offices. Hadden pleaded guilty to several counts of inducing patients, including minors. He cruelly lured women to cross state lines for his sexual gratification.
In short, Hadden went to great lengths to sexually victimize female patients. Worse yet, Columbia University and its affiliated hospitals did nothing to stop him. As a result, these institutions allowed a sexual predator to abuse patients for nearly three decades.
In 2020, one of the most high-profile disclosures of Hadden’s crimes surfaced. In an interview with CNN, Evelyn Yang, the wife of former presidential candidate and candidate for New York City Mayor Andrew Yang, shared her experiences with the now-convicted Robert Hadden.
In her statement, she detailed her sexual assault at the hands of the predatory Robert Hadden. One day, Hadden approached her with a heightened sense of urgency. He told Evelyn Yang that he needed to examine her immediately.
Sensing that the timing of the examination was odd, she asked Hadden his reasons for examining her. Without explaining, Hadden forced Evelyn into his medical office and proceeded to undress her.
From there, he asked Mrs. Yang to assume the position for examination. To her horror, she felt Hadden examining her with an ungloved hand.
Soon after the examination, she realized that she was sexually abused by Hadden. In her interview, she mentions how horrified she was at the experience and that many of Robert Hadden’s patients suffered a similarly vile fate.
Federal prosecutors brought federal charges against Robert Hadden in 2020. Hadden received federal charges for enticing women into his offices, illegal sexual activity with minors, and sexually abusing women after he persuaded them to cross state lines.
For many sexual abuse victims, the charges were overdue. However, for Hadden’s defense, the federal charges were unnecessary.
According to his defense attorney Kathryn Wozencroft, the federal charges were redundant as the state court convictions covered his multiple sexual crimes. Nevertheless, the jury and federal court agreed to the charges when Attorney Jane Kim told the court of Hadden’s sexual predation of vulnerable patients after he gained their trust.
Also, while Hadden’s lawyers admitted to the disgusting nature of Hadden’s crimes, his defense lawyers argued against the federal sex trafficking charges. According to his lawyers, Hadden was unaware that some of the women he abused weren’t from the state.
Hadden was indicted on four of six charges and now awaits sentencing in April 2023. He faces life in prison.
Hadden’s sexual crimes went on for over twenty years before the first charges were served. According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Hadden preyed upon vulnerable women that were desperate to receive professional medical care from the doctor.
Many victims are still coming forward — all patients of the former Columbia University gynecologist. With many horror stories from different years, one has to wonder — how can this have gone on for long?
The answer lies in the institutions with which Robert Hadden was affiliated.
During his time as an OB/GYN, Hadden was affiliated with Columbia University. For this reason, he practiced in two of its affiliated hospitals, namely the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Hadden roamed the halls of these medical institutions preying upon his patients. Whenever word got out about his crimes, Columbia University’s legal department was quick to cover it up.
Columbia University’s legal department would reach out to victims and offer settlements. However, the victims who accepted the settlements had to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
The NDAs barred victims from going public with their experiences with Hadden. Also, the NDA prohibited victims from filing lawsuits against Hadden.
Besides NDAs and settlements, Columbia University resorted to other strategies to take attention off Hadden’s crimes. The university also took steps to ensure Hadden still saw patients in private — even after his arrests.
The university also discouraged victims from going to the police, directing victims to the legal department for settlements instead.
Lastly, Columbia University blatantly ignored the reports of victims, even gaslighting them to discredit their claims.
In short, Columbia University and its hospitals did everything to cover up Hadden’s sexual crimes. By doing so, the university is complicit in Hadden’s crimes as they enabled a sexual predator in a white coat to victimize patients for several decades.
At the DiPietro Law Firm, we are spreading the word that victims still have time to file their lawsuits against Hadden. This is now possible with the New York Adult Survivors Act being in effect.
The New York Adult Survivors Act gives victims a one-year look-back period. The look-back period enables victims to file their lawsuits against Hadden even if the abuse took place a decade ago.
The look-back period expires on November 24, 2023. If you were a victim of Robert Hadden, don’t delay. Contact the DiPietro Law Firm immediately to bring him and the enabling institutions to justice.
We offer a free 100% confidential and no-obligation consultation.
Robert Hadden now faces several decades behind bars for his crimes. For some, this means justice has been served. However, we believe that the fight isn’t over as more of Hadden’s victims have yet to come forward.
We’re here to help more of Hadden’s victims find justice and hold enabling institutions accountable. If you were a victim, know that you’re not alone and that there’s still time.
Anthony DiPietro has been the lead charge in the Robert Hadden case for the past ten years and is ready to listen to your story.
Contact the DiPietro Law Firm today for a free 100% confidential and non-obligatory consultation.
We’re currently investigating this case and many other cases involving serial sexual predators.
As more information becomes available on our cases, we will share it on the The DiPietro Law Firm Twitter account (@atdipietro).
If you’re a survivor of sexual exploitation and abuse, please contact our Free Consultation Helpline for a 100% confidential and free consultation about your case at (212) 233-3600.
You’re not alone anymore.
Somebody who sexually assaults patients under the guise of medical care DOES NOT deserve salutations.
Robert Hadden is not a doctor. Robert Hadden is a convicted sexual felon and is facing life in prison for the crimes he committed.
The only reason the DiPietro Law Firm uses “Dr. Robert Hadden” in some of our content is so that victims are able to find us when searching for help.
Here, at The DiPietro Law Firm, we’re committed to helping victims of sexual abuse and assault find the justice they deserve.
All information discussed during our consultations always remains completely 100% confidential.
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Founder Anthony T. DiPietro, Esq. is a compassionate and skilled trial attorney who has completely dedicated the past 23 years of his career to litigating medical malpractice and sexual abuse cases against major corporate institutions including hospitals, medical clinics, schools, and other wrongdoers.
Mr. DiPietro has also obtained some of New York State’s highest verdicts and settlements, and has been selected to New York State Super Lawyers® each year, for the past 10 years in a row.
In 2022, Mr. DiPietro was selected as one of America’s Top 100 High-Stakes Litigators for the landmark cases he’s won on behalf of survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse.
Here, at The DiPietro Law Firm, we’re committed to helping victims of sexual abuse and assault find the justice they deserve.
All information discussed during our consultations always remains completely 100% confidential.
Would you like our help?
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Years of Abuse: 1987 – 2016
Brief:
Robert Hadden, a disgraced Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB/GYN) who worked for Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, was criminally convicted in 2016 of sexually exploiting and abusing patients under the guise of medical care.
Hadden used his position of authority and trust to sexually exploit women and girls for nearly three decades as a Columbia University physician.
All the while, Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital administrators turned their backs and ignored reports of Hadden’s abuse, gaslighting patients and the public.
Read More:
Years of Abuse: 1979 – 2022
Brief:
David H. Broadbent is a former OB/GYN under criminal investigation and facing civil lawsuits for sexual abuse of patients.
Broadent worked at multiple medical facilities in the Provo, Orem and Salt Lake City, UT areas.
These facilities included Intermountain Healthcare’s Utah Valley Hospital, MountainStar Healthcare’s Timpanogos Hospital, other Utah health care providers, and he also had adverse action taken against his medical license back in 1990.
Read More:
Years of Abuse: 1990 – 2016
Read More: University of Southern California & Predator George Tyndall
Years of Abuse: 1961 – 1996
Brief:
22 predator teachers and administrators, over the course of 35 years.
Years of Abuse: 1960 – 1982
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