Bergen County-Based Gynecologist Robert Hadden Gets 20 Years For Sex Crimes

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A New York City-based gynecologist who lives in Englewood was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday for sexually abusing four patients, announced the office of the U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York.

Although the sentence was in connection with the abuse of four out-of-state patients, dozens of patients said they had been abused by Hadden, the U.S. attorney's office said in a release.

At first, many of the patients were afraid no one would believe them when they talked about what happened with the doctor, who worked for Columbia University Irving Medical Center and other facilities, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. But in recent years, the women became more vocal.

Hadden, 64, cried when sentenced, the AP reported.

In 2016, Hadden was able to avoid jail time on sex abuse charges with a plea bargain. However, after that, women from states outside of New York came forward, meaning there could be new federal charges.

Hadden, who practiced from 1987 to 2012, was convicted this past January after a trial for "inducing four victims to travel interstate to his medical offices in Manhattan so that he could sexually abuse them," the U.S. Attorney's office said.

The office said in a release on Tuesday, "Hadden used sophisticated techniques to carry out his abuse, which he honed over the course of more than two decades. He exploited the power differential inherent in the doctor-patient relationship, he built rapport with victims, he asked victims invasive and unprompted questions about their sexual activity, including about sex positions and if they were able to achieve orgasm ... He also used so-called breast and vaginal exams to hide his abuse, he isolated patients, and he conducted fake examinations."

The judge said the accusers were vulnerable because they were pregnant or otherwise unsure of what was appropriate regarding exams, the AP noted.

According to the U.S. attorney, in addition to the prison term, Hadden was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $400 special assessment fee.