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Edited by: TJVNews.com
Columbia University’s recent announcement of a $100 million fund for victims of former gynecologist Robert Hadden has sparked controversy and criticism from survivors and their advocates. As was reported by the New York Post, the fund, deemed “pathetically low” and “woefully inadequate,” comes in the wake of Hadden’s conviction for sex trafficking and a 20-year prison sentence. The Post report also said that the university’s decision to establish the fund and initiate an investigation into the unchecked abuse has left many questioning the sincerity of their commitment to addressing the issue.
Columbia University and the Columbia University Irving Medical Center revealed plans to set up a $100 million fund to compensate nearly 6,500 former patients of Robert Hadden. According to the Post report, rhese individuals will be notified about Hadden’s conviction, and starting January, they can apply for settlement payouts from the fund. A neutral investigator will also be appointed to probe how Hadden’s abusive actions persisted for almost two decades, the report added.
However, the response from victims and their representatives has been far from positive. Anthony T. DiPietro, a lawyer representing 628 Hadden accusers, expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed fund, calling it “woefully inadequate.” The Post reported that DiPietro argued that, if distributed among the potential 6,500 victims, the settlement would amount to a mere $15,000 per person. He emphasized that Columbia University’s exposure in these cases could exceed $1 billion.
DiPietro did not mince words when accusing Columbia University of covering up Hadden’s abuse for the past 36 years. As was indicated in the Post report, he asserted that the university could not be trusted, citing a history of deception, negligence, and complicity in exposing patients to a known predator while concealing Hadden’s actions from law enforcement and the public.
“Columbia University’s exposure in these cases is well in excess of $1 billion and for them to come out with a statement, creating a $100 million fund to cover 6,500 patients is frankly offensive,” he told The Post on Tuesday.
“Columbia has covered up Robert Hadden’s abuse for the past 36 years,” DiPietro claimed, according to the Post report. “They cannot be trusted, they have done nothing but lie to patients, expose patients to a known predator and hide Hadden’s sexual abuse from law enforcement and the public.”
The university has already settled over 250 claims, paying out $230 million in compensation, yet it faces numerous pending lawsuits related to Hadden’s alleged abuse. The report in the Post also said that victims who choose to pursue legal action instead of opting for the university’s fund have until November 23 to leverage the New York Adult Survivors Act, addressing claims outside the statute of limitations.
Critics, including Marissa Hoechstetter, one of DiPietro’s clients and the first to come forward about Hadden’s abuse, find fault with the timing and amount of the fund, the Post report stated. Hoechstetter acknowledges the announcement as a step forward but deems it the “bare minimum.”The Post report added that she emphasized the significance of the timing, just days before the Adult Survivors Act window closes, and questioned the adequacy of $100 million given the potential number of victims.
Hoechstetter, 44, emphasized her frustration with Columbia’s timing, stating that the university’s actions are “quite telling and pathetic.” The Post report said that she acknowledged the importance of the announcement for other victims, characterizing it as a “win,” but labeled the $100 million fund as the “bare minimum.” Hoechstetter, who experienced abuse in 2012, has been an advocate for over a decade, urging government agencies and the hospital to inform all of Hadden’s patients about his misconduct, the report added.
In response to the criticism, a university spokesperson clarified that, although the Adult Survivors Act window is closing soon, the $100 million fund will remain open for at least one year after its launch in January, the Post reported. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik publicly acknowledged the university’s failure to address the survivors adequately. She expressed deep remorse, stating, “We owe it to the courageous survivors and the entire Columbia community to fully reckon with Hadden’s abuses,” said the Post report.
As part of its announcement, Columbia University pledged to implement new patient safety policies and programs. As was noted in the Post report, the university will collaborate with external experts to ensure transparent monitoring of patient safety moving forward.
Hadden, 64, was convicted in January on federal charges of enticing women to travel across state lines for abusive purposes. He struck a plea deal in 2016 for a separate state case, avoiding jail time for sexually abusing six patients, the Post reported. Hadden’s actions, spanning from 1987 to 2012, only came to light in 2012 when he was exposed, underscoring the prolonged nature of the abuse.
As survivors and advocates demand more comprehensive action, the university faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and implementing meaningful reforms to ensure the safety and well-being of its patients in the future.
