The doctor accused of molesting patients, including the wife of former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, is facing federal charges.
Dr. Robert Hadden, a former Columbia University gynecologist, was indicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury for sexually abusing his patients. The indictment charges him with abusing six victims, including a minor, but adds that between 1993 and 2012, Hadden abused dozens more of his patients, including multiple minors, according to WABC-TV. None of the victims were identified.
“Hadden did so through a process that entailed developing a relationship with his victims and causing them to trust him, before engaging in a course of increasingly abusive conduct, which Hadden attempted to mask under the guise of legitimate medical care,” the indictment said.
Federal prosecutors brought to attention a number of breast and pelvic exams that were “excessively long and sexualized” after making sure no one else would be present in the room.
Hadden’s prime targets included younger women who were unlikely to have had much experience with visiting gynecologists, the indictment said.
“For many victims, Hadden was their first gynecologist, and for others Hadden was their doctor during their first pregnancy,” the indictment said. “In doing so, Hadden intentionally targeted victims who would not know what to expect during their exams.”
At least 78 patients claim they were sexually assaulted by Hadden.
Evelyn Yang said in an interview with CNN that she didn’t initially see any red flags when she came to Hadden when she was pregnant with her first child in 2012. However, she said he eventually started asking her inappropriate, unsolicited questions about her sexual activity that were unrelated to her health.
“The examinations became longer, more frequent, and I learned that they were unnecessary most of the time,” she said.
One particular incident she recalled included Hadden allegedly telling her she needed a cesarean section, then subsequently undressing her, and examining her internally without gloves.
“I knew it was wrong. I knew I was being assaulted,” she said.
Hadden reached a plea deal in 2016 with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office that allowed him to avoid prison time after he was first accused of sexually abusing 19 patients.
A judge granted him the lowest sex offender status as part of the deal, in which he surrendered his medical license.
