US gynaecologist handed 20-year jail sentence for ‘horrific, depraved sexual abuse’ of 200 patients
- The judge said the case was unlike any he’d seen before and involved ‘outrageous, horrific, beyond extraordinary, depraved sexual abuse’ by Robert Hadden
- Many patients were particularly vulnerable because they were pregnant, had physical problems, or had never been to another gynaecologist and trusted the doctor
A United States gynaecologist who sexually abused vulnerable and trusting patients for more than two decades at prestigious New York hospitals cried before he was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a federal judge, who called his crimes unprecedented, “depraved” and “horrific”.
The sentence for Robert Hadden, 64, was a measure of vindication for hundreds of former patients who accused the doctor of molesting them during examinations but saw an earlier prosecution end with a plea bargain that spared him from jail.
Given his chance to speak on Tuesday, Hadden stood with his hands folded before him to say that there was “much I’d like to say” but that he had been advised by his lawyers to keep his statement brief.
“I’m very sorry for all the pain that I have caused,” a sobbing Hadden said before dropping his head down as he sat again. He then took off his glasses and wiped tears from his eyes.
In statements over the past two days, US District Judge Richard M. Berman said the case was like none he’d seen before and involved “outrageous, horrific, beyond extraordinary, depraved sexual abuse”. He noted that at least 245 women Hadden treated said they were abused.
The federal trial involved a smaller number of victims. Hadden was convicted of four counts of enticing women to cross state lines so he could sexually abuse them.