Edited by: TJVNews.com

Robert Hadden, a Manhattan gynecologist, received a 20-year prison sentence for his involvement in sex trafficking, where he exploited vulnerable patients under the guise of medical care, as was reported by the New York Post.  The sentencing decision, handed down by Manhattan federal Judge Richard Berman, came after emotional testimonies from 11 of Hadden’s victims who detailed the devastating impact of his abuse on their lives. The Post report indicated that the conviction followed a trial in which jurors heard evidence of Hadden’s appalling acts of sexual abuse on numerous patients over several decades.

The 64-year-old Englewood, New Jersey resident, was found guilty of all four counts of enticing women to travel across state lines with the intention of sexually abusing them. The Post also reported that his actions took place while he was working at prestigious hospitals associated with Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian. Hadden’s crimes involved at least 310 acts of sexual abuse and assault on numerous individuals under his care, a horrifying revelation that shocked the community and his former patients alike, according to the Post report.

Hadden’s sexual abuse went unchecked for decades, spanning from 1987 to 2012. The Post reported that during this time, he perfected his twisted scheme, targeting vulnerable women who sought professional medical care. Over 200 former patients sued the hospitals he worked at, and the institutions agreed to pay a substantial $236 million to settle those cases, as was reported by the Post. However, justice eluded Hadden until his recent conviction for sex trafficking.

At the sentencing hearing, 11 of Hadden’s victims bravely recounted the traumatic experiences they endured at his hands, according to the Post report. The emotional testimonies laid bare the long-lasting toll of his abuse on their physical and emotional well-being. They urged the judge to impose the maximum possible sentence on the “sexual predator disguised in a white coat,” as one victim aptly described him, the Post report indicated.

In 2016, Hadden pleaded guilty in a state criminal case involving abuse against six patients. Despite this, he managed to avoid jail time, which enabled his continued misconduct until his subsequent arrest in 2020 for the federal charges of sex trafficking. Moreover, the Post report said that some victims expressed frustration over the initial plea deal, as it appeared to allow Hadden to continue his predatory behavior with impunity.

Throughout the trial, Hadden’s defense team did not dispute the allegations of patient molestation but rather argued that his previous guilty plea in the state court should preclude conviction in the federal case, as was reported by the Post.  They also asserted that Hadden did not knowingly entice his victims across state lines, a crucial element of the sex-trafficking charge. However, the jury found these arguments insufficient in the face of the overwhelming evidence presented.

The Post report said that Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams praised the courageous victims who came forward to share their stories and testified during the trial, leading to Hadden’s conviction. He highlighted that Hadden had cruelly exploited the trust placed in him as a physician, transforming his patients into victims of his “heinous predilection,” the Post report said. The sentencing brings a sense of justice to the survivors, who fought to expose their abuser and put an end to his years-long cycle of abuse.

Experts have opined that the case highlights the need for vigilance within the medical community.