Report of Independent Investigation: Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Against Robert E. Anderson May 11, 2021
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Report of Independent Investigation: Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Against Robert E. Anderson May 11, 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................1 I. The Independent Investigation .........................................................................................8 A. Our Engagement ......................................................................................................8 B. Scope of Review and Methodology .........................................................................9 1. Patient Outreach ...........................................................................................9 2. University of Michigan Personnel Outreach ..............................................10 3. Non-University Community Outreach .......................................................12 4. Documentary Evidence ..............................................................................12 C. Limitations .............................................................................................................13 D. Investigation Team.................................................................................................14 II. Background: Robert E. Anderson .................................................................................17 A. Early Life and Career: 1928-1966 ........................................................................17 B. Initial Years at the University of Michigan: 1966-1981 .......................................19 1. UHS Generally ...........................................................................................19 2. Patient Population ......................................................................................20 3. Responsibilities as a Clinical Instructor and Lecturer ...............................21 4. Resignation as UHS Director .....................................................................21 C. Continued Service in the Athletic Department: 1981-1999 ..................................21 D. Practice at Michigan Medicine: 1995-2003 ..........................................................23 1. Acquisition of the Clark Road Practice .....................................................23 2. Dr. Anderson’s Michigan Medicine Practice.............................................23 III. Dr. Anderson’s Misconduct ............................................................................................24 A. Dr. Anderson Conducted Medically Unnecessary Examinations ..........................25 B. Dr. Anderson Repeatedly Performed Sensitive Examinations Inappropriately .......................................................................................................27 C. Dr. Anderson Engaged in Conduct that Fell Far Outside the Bounds of Appropriate Medical Practice ................................................................................29 IV. Awareness of Dr. Anderson’s Misconduct.....................................................................33 A. Tad DeLuca’s 1975 Letter .....................................................................................33 B. Reports to Thomas Easthope and Dr. Anderson’s Resignation from UHS ...........36 1. Jim Toy’s Concerns Regarding Dr. Anderson ...........................................37 2. Mr. Easthope’s Confrontation with Dr. Anderson .....................................37 i 3. Counseling Services Employees Report Dr. Anderson’s Misconduct .................................................................................................38 4. Dr. Anderson’s Resignation as UHS Director ...........................................39 5. Dr. Anderson’s Continued Practice at UHS ..............................................41 6. Keith Moree Report ...................................................................................42 C. Other Missed Opportunities ...................................................................................46 1. Widespread Rumors Among Patients ........................................................46 2. Awareness by Other University Employees ..............................................47 3. Dr. Anderson’s Disclosure of an Assault Lawsuit in 1996 ........................55 V. The University’s 2018-2020 Investigation into Misconduct by Dr. Anderson ...........57 A. OIE Received the 2018 and 2019 Complaints About Dr. Anderson in a Timely Manner.......................................................................................................57 1. Mr. DeLuca’s 2018 Letter ..........................................................................57 2. August 2019 Complaint .............................................................................58 B. OIE’s Review of the 2018 and 2019 Complaints About Dr. Anderson Was Unreasonably Delayed ...........................................................................................58 1. OIE’s Initial Review ..................................................................................58 2. Law Enforcement Review ..........................................................................59 3. OIE’s Continued Review ...........................................................................60 VI. Additional Considerations ..............................................................................................61 A. Dr. Anderson Engaged in Misconduct with Patients Who Were Unlikely to Report Their Experiences ..................................................................................61 B. The University’s Sexual Harassment Policies and Procedures Were Inadequate ..............................................................................................................63 VII. Recommendations ............................................................................................................64 A. Promote a Culture of Awareness and Reporting....................................................65 1. Training Should Address the Different Ways Misconduct Is Reported .....................................................................................................66 2. Training Should Address Athletic Department Culture Specifically ........66 3. Employees Need to Understand Their Reporting Obligations ..................66 B. Implement Additional Resources and Training Regarding Sensitive Examinations..........................................................................................................67 C. Conduct Periodic Reviews of Departments and Units ...........................................69 D. Improve Tracking of Self-Disclosures During the Credentialing Process .............69 E. Improve Communication About Sexual Misconduct Investigations Between OIE, DPSS, and the Prosecutor’s Office ................................................70 ii F. Ensure that OIE Has Sufficient Resources to Fulfill Its Mandate .........................71 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................71 Appendix A – Glossary of Acronyms Appendix B – Dr. Margot Putukian’s Curriculum Vitae Appendix C – Dr. E. Lee Rice’s Curriculum Vitae Appendix D – Dr. William Roberts’s Curriculum Vitae Appendix E – Dr. James DuBois’s Curriculum Vitae Appendix F – Dr. Deborah Goldfarb’s Curriculum Vitae iii Executive Summary On July 18, 2018, Thomas “Tad” DeLuca1 sent a letter to University of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel. In his letter, Mr. DeLuca, an alumnus of the University and a member of the wrestling team in the 1970s, described a series of interactions with a former University physician, Robert E. Anderson. Mr. DeLuca wrote that, beginning in 1972, he sought treatment from Dr. Anderson for cold sores on his face and that, during several visits, Dr. Anderson examined his penis, did a hernia check, and conducted a digital rectal examination without explaining why such examinations were necessary. Mr. DeLuca also stated that he sought treatment from Dr. Anderson in 1974 for a dislocated elbow and that, once again, Dr. Anderson performed penis, hernia, and prostate examinations, all without any explanation or apparent justification. According to Mr. DeLuca, these types of examinations were standard operating procedure for “Dr. ‘Drop Your Drawers’ Anderson.” Dr. Anderson worked in various capacities at the University between 1966 and 2003. He died in 2008. On July 26, 2018, Mr. DeLuca’s letter was forwarded to the University’s Office for Institutional Equity (“OIE”),2 which is responsible for investigating Title IX complaints and other reports of sexual misconduct. Pamela Heatlie, who was then the Director of OIE, contacted Mr. DeLuca on August 6 and met with him later that month. On October 1, 2018, Ms. Heatlie referred the matter to the University’s Division of Public Safety and Security (“DPSS”). DPSS assigned the matter to Detective Mark West. On October 3, DPSS instituted a “law enforcement hold,” which froze OIE’s review while Detective West investigated whether any crime may have been committed. Over the next several months, Detective West conducted an extensive investigation, during which he interviewed former patients3 of Dr. Anderson and current and former University employees and reviewed potentially relevant documents. In April 2019, Detective West forwarded the DPSS investigative report to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office (the “Prosecutor’s Office”). The