DeepSummary
Lori Kanyock, a patient of Columbia University's OB-GYN Dr. Robert Hadden, was sexually assaulted during a postpartum exam. She called the police, but Hadden was not charged due to inconclusive DNA evidence. Kanyock filed a civil lawsuit, which prompted Evelyn Yang, another former patient, to realize she had also been assaulted by Hadden.
More survivors came forward, and the Manhattan DA reopened the investigation. Despite finding a pattern of abuse spanning decades, the DA's office faced challenges in building a case against Hadden, who had the support of Columbia University's legal team. Survivors had to relive their trauma by testifying before a grand jury, which ultimately indicted Hadden.
Prosecutors uncovered that Columbia was aware of complaints against Hadden but failed to take action, allowing him to continue abusing patients for years. The survivors faced an uphill battle against the powerful institution, which fought to protect its reputation and intimidate those seeking justice.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Dr. Robert Hadden, an OB-GYN at Columbia University, sexually assaulted numerous patients over decades.
- Despite reports from survivors, Columbia failed to take action against Hadden, enabling his abuse to continue.
- A group of survivors banded together to pursue criminal charges against Hadden and expose Columbia's institutional cover-up.
- The survivors faced challenges in seeking justice, as Columbia used its legal resources to intimidate them and protect its reputation.
- The case highlighted the enabling role of powerful institutions in allowing serial abusers to operate unchecked.
- The survivors demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in pursuing accountability and justice against formidable odds.
- The case raised questions about the systemic failures that allow sexual abuse to persist in healthcare settings.
- The survivors' voices and advocacy played a crucial role in bringing Hadden's crimes to light and challenging the institutional cover-up.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I remember thinking very clearly, oh, my gosh, could it be that he did this to someone else?“ by Evelyn Yang
- “I slowly came to realize that I was dealing with a sexual abuser of epic proportions. And I distinctly remember that when I started to say those numbers out loud, people looked at me like I was crazy.“ by Laura Millendorf
- “These serial predators need the institution to do what they do.“ by Anthony Di Pietro
- “I feel like I found my voice. I'm not stopping.“ by Sandy Abramovich
Entities
Organization
Person
Episode Information
Exposed: Cover-Up at Columbia University
Wondery
9/11/23
Laurie Kanyok’s routine postpartum check-up ends in a frantic 911 call about her doctor. As more and more patients come forward, it becomes apparent that there is a serial predator operating at Columbia.
If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, here are some resources:
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) survivor helpline is 1-800-656-4673.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center provides resources for sexual violence and prevention education. You can find them at nsvrc.org.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 988.
To read Laura Beil and Bianca Fortis' article about this story on ProPublica visit: https://www.propublica.org/article/columbia-obgyn-sexually-assaulted-patients-for-20-years
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