Weill Cornell Medicine has agreed to pay over $1 billion to hundreds of patients who were sexually abused by urologist Darius Paduch, a settlement that formally closes a federal civil rights probe into the Manhattan hospital. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the agreement Monday, stating that the hospital admitted to having failed to implement adequate safeguards to prevent the abuse.
Paduch was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for preying on more than 50 male patients, including minors, between 2009 and 2019. The hospital acknowledged that it received complaints about Paduch's conduct for years, including allegations of masturbating patients under the guise of medical exams. However, its policies at the time did not mandate the escalation or thorough investigation of such reports, allowing him to continue practicing.
One patient reported in 2018 that Paduch had cultivated a paternal relationship and masturbated in front of him years earlier, according to court documents. Another instance involved complaints from hospital staff about inappropriate behavior, including Paduch exposing himself to a colleague's husband.
Federal officials noted that Weill Cornell Medicine has already paid or agreed to pay victims more than $1 billion to resolve civil claims. As a result, the hospital will not face an additional monetary penalty. The institution is also committing $30 million to establish an "Institute for Safe Patient Care and Patient Empowerment" aimed at improving the detection and prevention of sexual abuse and misconduct within the medical profession.
In a joint message to staff, Cornell University President Michael I. Kotlikoff and Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine Dr. Robert Harrington stated that the hospital is now safer and has implemented significant reforms to enhance patient safety and prevent future misconduct. Anthony DiPietro, an attorney representing over 400 of Paduch's accusers, emphasized that the settlement sends a message to medical institutions that they cannot ignore serious crimes, shield perpetrators, or betray patient trust without consequence.