Columbia University Admits Decades of Institutional Failure Regarding Serial Abuser Robert Hadden

A long-awaited independent investigation has confirmed that Columbia University fostered a culture of silence that allowed OB-GYN Robert Hadden to sexually abuse over 1,000 patients during his 25-year tenure. The 156-page report reveals that university leadership repeatedly ignored or mishandled numerous complaints, failing to conduct proper investigations even after Hadden faced criminal allegations. In response to the findings, the university announced that two high-ranking administrators, OB-GYN department chair Dr. Mary D’Alton and former medical school dean Dr. Lee Goldman, are stepping down or retiring. Both individuals were previously identified as recipients of correspondence regarding Hadden’s misconduct, yet they allowed him to continue treating patients.

The report highlights a toxic institutional hierarchy where doctors were treated as untouchable figures, effectively silencing staff and patients who attempted to raise alarms. Victims, such as Eva Santos Veloz, have long maintained that their reports were dismissed, leading them to doubt their own experiences. While Columbia previously established a $100 million settlement fund for survivors following a 2023 investigation, the release of this report comes amid mounting pressure from an ongoing probe by the New York attorney general. The findings serve as a formal acknowledgment that the university prioritized its reputation and internal structure over the safety of the patients in its care.