Editor’s Note: The following
article
contains
potentially
triggering accounts and mentions
of sexual assault
The
law
firm
WilmerHale
released a report on Tuesday
summarizing
their
year-long
investigation
of
sexual
abuse
allegations against Dr. Robert
Anderson, finding “no doubt”
that
hundreds
of
allegations
against Anderson are credible
and
represent
a
devastating
pattern of misconduct The report
tells of Anderson’s misconduct,
awareness
of
Anderson’s
misconduct at the University,
and recommendations for the
University
“to
help
prevent,
identify, investigate, and respond
to the kind of misconduct in which
Dr. Anderson engaged.”
Anderson was first hired as a
physician at University Health
System (UHS) in 1966, and was
promoted to UHS director from
1968 until 1980, when he resigned
from his position as director but
remained a physician at UHS.
In 1981, Anderson transferred to
the athletic department, where
he remained a physician until
1999. Anderson remained at the
University as a faculty member
until 2003.
WilmerHale
outlined
three
main goals in their report: to
“investigate the nature and scope
of any misconduct by Dr Anderson
as a University employee”, to
“determine who at the University
knew or should have known
about such misconduct and what
was done to address it” and
to “recommend measures the
University should take to help
prevent, detect and address such
misconduct in the future.”
More than 300 patients told
WilmerHale
about
Anderson’s
misconduct in multiple positions
he held during his 37-year tenure
at the University. More than
200 current and former U-M
employees were interviewed for
the
investigation.
WilmerHale
additionally
hired
medical
experts
to
better
understand
relevant standards of care, as
well as social science experts to
better understand how and why
reports of sexual misconduct may
not be noticed in institutional and
medical settings.
WilmerHale wrote that the
investigation
was
completely
independent from the University,
and that no person or department
at
the
University
sought
to
interfere, influence or impede the
investigation. They also said that
they are fully confident in the
patterns of abuse revealed in the
investigation because of certain
behaviors and details that were
consistent across all interviewed
patients.
The
investigation
outlined
how exactly Anderson typically
engaged
in
misconduct:
conducting invasive procedures
that
patients
“perceived
as
unnecessary,
performed
inappropriately, or both” under
the guise of legitimate medical
treatment.
“For example, approximately
one hundred patients described
inappropriate prostate or rectal
examinations; nearly 150 patients
detailed
inappropriate
hernia
and/or genital examinations; and
a half-dozen patients told us about
inappropriate breast and/or pelvic
examinations,” the report said
Victims
of
Anderson’s
misconduct experienced various
appalling forms of sexual abuse,
as reported to WilmerHale and
DPSS. In 1965 or 1966, one patient
was instructed to “‘strip down’”
and “perform jumping jacks while
naked.” Following the jumping
jacks, Anderson inappropriately
performed a prostate exam and
“‘stroked’ the patient’s penis until
he ejaculated.” After the patient
ejaculated, Anderson said, “Nice
color.”
Thursday, May 13, 2021
INDEX
Vol. CXXIX, No. 112
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Independent report finds 37 years of sexual
abuse by former U-M doctor Robert Anderson
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM
michigandaily.com
U-M athletic department
implicated in Anderson
sexual misconduct report
The
law
firm
WilmerHale
released
an
independent
investigation report detailing the
allegations of sexual misconduct
against
former
University
of
Michigan
physician
Robert
Anderson on Tuesday.
In the 240-page report, former
Wolverine
football
coach
Bo
Schembechler was mentioned 10
times. According to the document,
numerous former student athletes
on the football team approached
Schembechler
with
serious
concerns
about
Anderson’s
behavior.
One
former
student
athlete
questioned Schembechler about
Dr.
Anderson’s
methods
but
according to the student athlete,
Schembechler told him to “toughen
up.” The student athlete told the
UM Department of Public Safety
and Security (DPSS) that “you do
not mess with Bo, and the matter
was dropped.”
Another former student athlete
told DPSS that, “his position coach
used the threat of an examination
with Dr. Anderson as a motivational
tool. (WilmerHale) interviewed the
coach, who denied the allegation.”
The failure of the Athletic
Department to protect students
from abuse by those in authority
goes beyond the football team. A
former track athlete alleged that
former coaches Jack Harvey and
Ron Warhurst both “‘laughed’ and
refused” when the student asked
to see another physician after
Anderson “(groped) his genitals.”
Both Harvey and Warhurst deny
the allegation.
Read more at michigandaily.com
Read more at michigandaily.com
JOSH TAUBMAN AND MAX
WADLEY
Summer Managing Sports Editors
MARTHA LEWAND AND JUSTIN
O’BEIRNE
Daily Staff Reporters
JARETT ORR/Daily
The lawfirm WilmerHale found “no doubt” that hundreds of the allegations were credible.
Courtesy of Evan Aaron
The Michigan athletic department
was implicated in WilmerHale’s sexual
misconduct report against Dr. Anderson.