64 year old Robert Hadden, a former Columbia University gynecologist was convicted of federal sex crimes yesterday after a two-week trial. The gynecologist who sexually abused patients while working at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital sexually abused patients from 1993 to 2012. He was previously convicted of sexual abuse after being accused by 19 patients but had been able to avoid jail time by signing a state-court plea agreement. The plea agreement infuriated hundreds of women who had been abused by the doctor.
Yesterday Robert Hadden was charged with sex trafficking after four patients complained the doctor induced them to cross State lines for what they thought were medical examinations during which the doctor assaulted them. The doctor enticed his patients to travel to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Nevada to engage in illegal sexual activity. Robert Hadden’s sentencing is scheduled for April 25th. Despite some victims asking for the abuser to remain in jail, Judge Berman allowed Hadden to remain free for now. He said Hadden was not a flight risk and was the caretaker for his son who suffers from cerebral palsy and autism as well as his wife who has diabetes and neuropathy.
226 victims have already been compensated by the two NYC hospitals where Hadden was working
In New York, adult victims of sexual abuse can also file a civil lawsuit against their predator and the organization they are involved with or working for. So far, New-York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Irving Medical Center have previously announced two separate settlements with 226 victims for a total of $236 million.
NY Adult Survivor Act
Under the new NY Adult Survivor Act that was signed by Governor Kathy Hohul on May 24 2022, a one year window between November 2022 and November 2023, allows any adult victim of sexual abuse to file a lawsuit against their predator and obtain compensation regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Read more in the New York Times
Picture: courtesy of Wikimedia