Columbia Report: Institutional Failures Around Robert Hadden

On March 10, 2026, an external report said Columbia University had a culture that shielded patients from a doctor’s sexual abuse. The doctor was Robert Hadden. He was convicted in 2023 and is serving a 20‑year prison sentence.

Columbia and NewYork‑Presbyterian have made a $100 million Survivors Settlement Fund and have settled with more than 1,000 former patients for over $1 billion. Dr. Mary D’Alton, chair of Columbia’s obstetrics and gynecology department, said she will step down. The state attorney general has opened a civil review of how the university handled complaints. Many patients said they were not believed. Survivors remain upset.