The New York State Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation into how Columbia University allowed predatory doctors to continue seeing patients despite decades of warnings.
“The Attorney General’s Office is conducting a thorough investigation into the systemic response to Robert Hadden’s misconduct,” a spokesperson said in a statement to ProPublica. The agency did not provide further details.
A ProPublica investigation in fall 2023 revealed how Columbia University ignored women and ultimately protected Robert Hadden, the university’s longtime obstetrician-gynecologist. In 2012, the Colombian government allowed Hadden to continue seeing patients, days after a patient called 911 to report that Hadden had sexually assaulted her.
In early 2023, Hadden was found guilty in federal court of sexually abusing a patient. He is currently serving a 20-year sentence. Columbia University paid more than $1 billion to settle more than 1,000 sexual abuse claims.
After our investigation, Columbia committed to a variety of reforms, including improved patient safety, a $100 million fund for victims, and an independent investigation.
But advocates, students and survivors say Columbia needs to do more to address Hadden’s role in the act. Recently, 400 medical students at Columbia University sent a letter to university officials demanding a review of disciplinary actions against administrators who failed to heed warnings about Hadden.
Unlike other universities that have dealt with serial abusive doctors, no one in Columbia’s upper echelons appears to have lost their jobs or faced disciplinary action. Dr. Mary Dalton, who was CC’d on the letter allowing Hadden to return to work, will continue as head of obstetrics and gynecology.
Dalton did not respond to requests for comment.
Colombia declined to comment for this story.
The attorney general’s office has significant power over nonprofits in New York, including Columbia. A few years ago, the Trump Foundation was forced to shut down. It recently sued the National Life Association and subsequently had to implement a series of reforms.
Survivors told ProPublica they are encouraged that New York is investigating Columbia.
“Accountability is overdue, especially in light of the Epstein file,” Evelyn Yang said, pointing to recent revelations that several affiliates in Colombia have ties to the financier.
Mr. Yang was one of at least eight patients who were assaulted by Mr. Hadden after he returned to work. She was seven months pregnant at the time.
Shortly after our article was published more than two years ago, Columbia promised to “thoroughly investigate the circumstances that allowed Hadden’s abuse to continue.”
A report detailing those findings has not yet been published.
The Colombian government acknowledged in a statement last week that there were “many questions” about the timing of the investigation it had commissioned. He said the report would be released “soon.”
New York State Assemblywoman Grace Lee slammed the university for not issuing a report, telling ProPublica that the university was not responsible for what happened.
“For me, it’s just outrageous that here we are in 2026 and still there is no report and no one has been held accountable,” she said.
By comparison, an external investigation into the University of Michigan’s response to crimes committed by former physician Robert Anderson took about 15 months.
Marissa Hechstetter, another Hadden survivor, said the attorney general’s decision to investigate Columbia University brings some comfort, since the university itself has repeatedly failed investigations.
“I believe there is a lack of institutional responsibility to bring about significant change in the fight against gender-based violence,” Hoechstetter said. “We don’t know what will happen with this investigation, but it shows that institutions that protect and cover up abusers to protect their own people and honor will be held accountable,” he said, referring to the New York investigation.
Both Hochstetter and Yang advocated for the Adult Survivors Act (New York state law), which in 2022 would give survivors of sexual assault a one-year window to file civil lawsuits against their abusers and the facilities that sheltered them, even after the statute of limitations has passed.
For years, the university did not notify Hadden’s former patients of his misconduct. Finally, in November 2023, just 10 days before the law’s extension expires, Columbia University announced it would send letters to approximately 6,500 patients.
A closed town hall meeting held at the medical school in January revealed who was behind the lack of notification. In a recording obtained by ProPublica, Monica Lipson, associate dean of medical education, told students that “it’s really the board’s decision,” citing potential legal costs.
Lipson did not respond to a request for comment.
Separately, the deadline for making claims to the Columbia Family Settlement Fund, which was established for families who do not want to file a lawsuit, has been extended to April 15.
