Columbia Report: Institutional Failures Around Robert Hadden

An independent investigation, led by Joan Loughnane, has published findings on March 10, 2026 that describe how Columbia University’s institutional culture allowed Robert Hadden to injure patients for many years. The report found ineffective medical chaperoning, barriers that discouraged reporting of misconduct, and gaps in record‑keeping that let problems go unnoticed. Hadden was convicted in 2023 and was sentenced to twenty years in federal prison, and survivors have long said they were not heard while administrators failed to stop him.

Columbia and NewYork‑Presbyterian have responded by creating a $100 million Survivors Settlement Fund and by reaching voluntary settlements with more than 1,000 former patients totaling over $1 billion. Dr. Mary D’Alton, who led the obstetrics and gynecology department, has announced her intention to step down. The New York attorney general has opened a civil review of the university’s handling of complaints, and the institutions say they will strengthen patient safety, improve reporting channels, and invest in oversight and training. Although the investigation took months, many survivors said the findings did not address every concern and called for further accountability. They remain skeptical.