Union urges hospital to investigate Robert Jaffe

A healthcare workers' union is urging Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to investigate stockbroker Robert Jaffe (right), a member of the hospital's board of overseers who helped direct investor funds to accused Ponzi artist Bernard L. Madoff.

The union group, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, said in a press release that it sent a letter to the hospital's board of directors yesterday, urging them to "investigate Jaffe’s conduct and remove him from the board of overseers if appropriate."

Beth Israel had no immediate comment on the letter. Spokesman Jerry Berger said the hospital's 300-member board of overseers - which is distinct from its board of directors - has no fiduciary responsibilities. The members are generally fundraisers and goodwill ambassadors for the hospital. Beth Israel did not have any of its funds invested with Madoff, the hospital has said.

Jaffe, who lives in Weston and Palm Beach, Fla., has said he knew nothing of Madoff's alleged $50 billion fraud. Jaffe's extended family has lost hundreds of millions of dollars to Madoff.

Jaffe and his wife, Ellen, have been fundraisers and donors to Beth Israel.

The union has been in a long battle with Beth Israel, as it tries to organize workers at the Boston teaching hospitals.

Mike Fadel, executive vice president of the union local, said: "We're not saying that the board should remove him. We are saying that the board may wish to investigate his conduct and his role in this Ponzi scheme."

To read previous coverage about Jaffe, please click here.
(By Beth Healy, Globe staff. File photo of Jaffe: Jeffrey Langlois/Palm Beach Daily News.)