Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

As set forth on the Rebuilding Trust website and in the report that was recently issued, the external investigator, Joan Loughnane, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and a partner at law firm Sidley Austin, was asked to determine the circumstances that allowed Hadden’s misconduct to continue for so long—and to make recommendations to ensure we have the policies and procedures in place to prevent this from ever happening again.

In November 2023, Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian commissioned the external investigation by Joan Loughnane, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and a partner at law firm Sidley Austin. The investigation was commissioned to determine the circumstances that allowed Hadden’s abuse to continue for so long—and to make recommendations to ensure we have the policies and procedures in place to prevent this from ever happening again. Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian each set up a Special Committee of their Boards, which facilitated the work of the investigator. The full Columbia Board, led by the Health Sciences Committee, will oversee the implementation of the commitments set forth in Chapter 10 of the report.

Yes. As stated in the report, “Columbia … provided the Investigation Team with broad access to relevant documents and witnesses.... We had the freedom to pursue all avenues of inquiry that we identified, and we have done so. The Investigation Team was not denied any information or interviews that we requested by either Institution.”

The Report was issued by the Investigative Team at Sidley Austin and reflects their work. Sidley was given the discretion to employ the investigative resources, techniques, and processes that it deemed appropriate to conduct and complete the investigation and to write its report. The University did not direct the content of the investigation work of the Report. As stated in the Report: “Both Columbia and NYP provided the Investigative Team with broad access to relevant document and witnesses . . .” That included interviews with more than 60 current and former employees and the production of more than 120,000 documents, including personnel files, notes and communications, patient records, emails, and other information.

The University did not control the timing of the external investigation. The external investigation was conducted thoroughly and in a manner that allowed survivors and others with knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Hadden’s misconduct to share their stories confidentially. The report was released after the external investigator and her team completed their work.

The report describes the factors that permitted Hadden’s abuse to occur over a sustained period of time, details the significant improvements that Columbia had made before the investigation began to address many of the weaknesses identified in the report, and sets forth a series of commitments that Columbia has made to enhance its policies and procedures to prevent sexual misconduct from occurring.

The investigation found that the following factors permitted Hadden’s abuse to occur and contributed to the abuse remaining undetected for so long:

• ineffective and uneven use of medical chaperoning;
• barriers to patients and staff reporting physician misconduct, including a hierarchical culture that suppressed or discouraged reporting;
• the lack of a clear complaint reporting procedure that would sufficiently enable patient reporting of complaints about physician misconduct; and
• failed institutional responses to the reports that were received about Hadden’s conduct, including insufficient record-keeping and the failure to conduct a full investigation, which contributed to the decision to permit Hadden to return to work after his arrest in 2012.

As reflected in the report, Columbia took significant steps prior to the investigation to strengthen policies and procedures regarding sexual misconduct and chaperones.

Columbia has additionally committed, as set forth in the report, to take additional steps, including the following:

• to further strengthen our chaperone trainings to ensure they are more interactive and trauma-informed;
• to clarify duties in our sexual misconduct and chaperone policies and procedures;
• to strengthen mandatory reporting language and anti-retaliation policies to encourage reporting by employees;
• to identify mechanisms to ensure effective information sharing, recordkeeping, and investigation processes regarding sexual misconduct; and to ensure additional Board oversight.

Chapter 10 of the report sets forth the changes that Columbia has made and the additional commitments it has made in response to the findings in the report.

The University has made significant investments to strengthen patient safety since Hadden last saw patients in 2012, many of which, as noted in Chapter 10 of the report, address the findings highlighted in the report. The University has implemented best-in-class protocols and procedures to ensure all patients are provided with a safe and respectful environment. The foundation of this work is the expansion and strengthening of patient safety systems, including visible and easily accessible ways for patients and staff to report concerns and misconduct along with tracking of grievances and complaints to ensure coordinated evaluation and responses. The University’s patient safety commitments include, among other things:

• clearly stated chaperone policies and requirements in alignment with our health system partner, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital;
• further expanded, trauma-informed training for designated medical chaperones as well as all patient-facing staff;
• strengthened mandatory reporting and anti-retaliation language in our policies and training;
• guidance for patients about sensitive appointments and clear information about relevant policies provided in advance of appointments;
• proactive communication to patients of information about reporting misconduct expanded board-level oversight over our sexual misconduct policies.

CUIMC’s Sexual Misconduct Allegation Response Team (SMART) operates to ensure that sexual misconduct allegations are addressed and investigated immediately, in close coordination with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and in accordance with nationwide best practices, including trauma-informed care standards. CUIMC also established a new Center for Patient Safety Science to develop, research, and test innovative strategies for improving patient safety and health outcomes, and we are conducting research to improve the safety of healthcare delivery across the country.

CUIMC is utilizing a new professionalism tool, developed at the Vanderbilt University Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy, to identify provider behavior that is not consistent with a culture of safety and respect and intervene accordingly. The Patient Advocacy Reporting System (“PARS”) and the Co-Worker Observation Reporting System (“CORS”) incorporates data about both patient and co-worker concerns and compares that data to national data from peer institutions, serving as an early-warning system to identify professionalism or patient safety concerns.

Collectively, all these efforts position CUIMC as a national leader in advancing patient safety standards and best practices for health systems across the country.

The external investigator followed the protocols outlined in Chapter 1, Section II of the report, which were developed in consultation with RAINN, a non-profit with expertise in protecting victims of sexual abuse, to ensure a confidential, trauma-informed approach.  Out of respect for survivors and in order not to retraumatize them, the investigator did not initiate direct communication with survivors.

Survivors were encouraged, if they wanted, to come forward (alone or with their counsel) and the report reflects that many did. A letter was sent in November 2023 to nearly 6,500 patients of Hadden that included information about the external investigation and how to contact the investigator directly through a dedicated email address and toll-free telephone hotline for individuals who wished to speak with the investigator. The external investigator’s contact information was also included on the Rebuilding Trust website. In addition, the report also reflects that the investigator spoke with legal counsel for certain survivors and contacted prosecutors who conducted the criminal trial against Hadden to inquire about any witnesses who may have wished to speak with the investigator.

The investigator also reviewed the accounts of hundreds of survivors who publicly described their experiences in court proceedings, court filings, or the media.

The investigator states in the report that she and her team spoke with dozens of survivors who came forward voluntarily in whatever context each survivor identified as most comfortable. More than 100 individuals contacted the investigator, some only to pose questions or requests, and more than 60 survivors bravely shared their experiences as patients.

Coinciding with the start of the investigation, Columbia established a $100 million Survivors’ Settlement Fund, which has now been extended until June 15, 2026. The letter that went out to nearly 6,500 Hadden patients in November 2023 included information about the Settlement Fund and this information has been posted on the Rebuilding Trust website since then. More information regarding eligibility and how to apply to the Fund is available on the website established by Simone Lelchuk, the trauma-informed Settlement Fund Claims Administrator.

The University also has entered into voluntary settlements with more than 1,000 former Hadden patients for over $1 billion. Settlements are always an imperfect method for recognizing the pain and suffering of victims, but the University’s efforts reflect our recognition that his patients did not receive the care, respect, and safety they rightly deserved, and that this breach of trust betrays the values we uphold as educators, scientists, and health professionals.

In recognition of the painful and traumatic contents of the report and the need to support survivors of abuse and trauma, the University has partnered with RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence nonprofit, to establish a free, confidential, 24/7 helpline for survivors, their loved ones, and others seeking support and assistance. The trauma-informed helpline offers support in English and Spanish through telephone, chat, text, and WhatsApp. RAINN’s trusted, highly trained helpline specialists will provide survivors and others emotional support, crisis intervention services, guidance on Columbia’s reporting pathways, and referrals and resources.

As set forth on the Rebuilding Trust website, Columbia has partnered with RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence nonprofit, to establish a free, confidential, 24/7 helpline for survivors, their loved ones, and others seeking support and assistance. The trauma-informed helpline offers support in English and Spanish through telephone, chat, text, and WhatsApp. RAINN’s trusted, highly trained helpline specialists will provide survivors and others emotional support, crisis intervention services, guidance on Columbia’s reporting pathways, and referrals and resources.

Safety concerns can be reported to the Patient Safety phone 212-305-8548 or the cdsafety@cumc.columbia.edu email address, or online by completing a Patient Safety form, which can be done anonymously. To help provide survivors with information and resources, a dedicated email HaddenSupport@cumc.columbia.edu was also established and has been posted on the Rebuilding Trust website along with other resources.