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Late last week, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian announced a settlement with 147 women who had alleged that gynecologist Robert Hadden, MD, sexually abused them over a nearly 20-year period. The settlement establishes a $165 million fund to be distributed among the former patients, which include minors.

According to , the victims "were forced to repeatedly seek medical treatment from defendant-sexual predator Robert Hadden, due to the fact that [Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian] ... repeatedly and actively concealed, conspired, and enabled the sexual exploitation and abuse being committed by defendant."

The complaint alleged that Hadden -- under the guise of medical care -- abused pregnant and non-pregnant patients by "grooming, sexually exploiting, fondling, ogling, penetrating and groping Plaintiffs' bodies and genitalia for no medical purpose," and that Columbia University and their affiliated hospitals, offices, and clinics "granted him unfettered access and authority over patients."

It also alleged that the university moved Hadden from one clinic to another periodically as complaints about him mounted, did not disclose his record of abuse to patients, failed to investigate and denied claims of sexual abuse by Hadden to discourage lawsuits, and "cloak[ed] Robert Hadden's sexual misconduct with patients within the facade of normalcy, thereby disguising the nature of his sexual exploitation and abuse."

Though nurses, supervisors, administrators, colleagues, and even chaperones were aware of his abuse, they covered it up to protect Columbia's and the hospital's reputations, and their own "corporate and financial interests," according to the complaint.

Evelyn Yang, wife of former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, came forward in 2020 as one of Hadden's victims. She that when she was 7 months pregnant in 2012, Hadden undressed her and examined her, ungloved, after extended grooming and other abusive behavior. Yang said she understood immediately that she was being assaulted, but didn't come forward until she discovered a number of complaints by other women.

In a statement, representatives for Columbia University Irving Medical Center said, "We deeply regret the pain that Robert Hadden's patients suffered and hope that these resolutions will provide some measure of support for the women he hurt. All those who came forward should be commended. We are committed to the safety and dignity of every one of our patients and have to ensure they are protected and empowered while in our care."

The medical center noted that they will implement mandatory training on policy for ob/gyn physicians, chaperones, and other staff, in addition to providing information to patients on what to expect during examinations, requiring the presence of parents or guardians for examinations of minors, and using a confidential reporting system for patients and staff, among other measures.

Anthony DiPietro, who is representing the victims, that the settlement is only "scratching the surface," and that other women's cases remain unresolved.

Hadden stopped working in 2012, and was convicted in 2016 after pleading guilty to a criminal sex act in the third degree and forcible touching. his medical license that year, but .

He is now facing that carry a potential sentence of 20 years in prison. This settlement follows another announced in December 2021.

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