Dr. Mark Mulholland Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Confidential Consultations for Survivors of Sexual Abuse Disguised as Medical Care

At Injury Lawyer Team, we stand with survivors impacted by Dr. Mark Mulholland sexual abuse and other acts of misconduct that occurred under the guise of routine medical care. When a trusted medical professional violates boundaries, consent, and patient well-being, the harm can be lifelong.

Our firm provides a safe, confidential space for survivors to share their story, understand their legal options, and take the first step toward accountability, healing, and justice. Whether you are just beginning to process what happened or are ready to explore legal action, we are here to listen, support you, and protect your rights every step of the way.

Key Takeaways of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Dr. Mark Mulholland and the Kadlec Clinic

When we look at the public record on Dr. Mulholland sexual abuse claims, a clear picture emerges of a long-time OB/GYN in the Tri-Cities whose patients allege that routine medical visits were turned into episodes of humiliation, violation, and assault, and that Kadlec and related institutions failed to stop it in the Richland community. We want our clients to understand what is known so far, so they can make informed decisions about bringing legal action under Washington law.

Who Is Dr. Mark Mulholland, and Where Did He Practice?

Dr. Mark Mulholland is an OB/GYN who practiced in Richland, Washington, for more than 20 years, primarily at Kadlec Clinic – Associated Physicians for Women within the Kadlec Regional Medical Center, owned by Providence Health & Services.

He built a large patient base in the Tri-Cities, seeing women for prenatal care, deliveries, surgeries, and routine gynecological care. For many survivors, this long tenure is part of what makes the allegations so disturbing: they trusted a doctor who had been part of the local medical community for decades.

How Many Women Have Come Forward, and What Is the Scope of the Lawsuits?

Dr. Mulholland and Kadlec Clinic are facing at least 18 civil lawsuits and 10 formal complaints to the Washington Department of Health (DOH) by former patients alleging sexual assault and unnecessary procedures, with suits filed after an April statement of charges from the Washington Medical Commission.

Moreover, the Washington Medical Commission issued an interim order prohibiting him from treating female patients while licensing charges are pending, citing a Tri-City Herald report that more than 100 women say he sexually abused them under the guise of legitimate medical care.

These disciplinary actions don’t replace civil claims, but they are important context. They reflect that the state’s own licensing body saw sufficient concern to file charges and temporarily remove him from practice with female patients.

In short, this is no longer a single incident. It is a broad wave of sexual abuse survivors coming forward, supported by a growing set of civil filings that allege a larger pattern of abuse and institutional failure. Many survivors are now choosing to file civil lawsuits after years of remaining silent, including one woman whose account helped expose the scale of the harm.

What Do Survivors Say Happened in the Exam Rooms?

When we review the allegations in the civil lawsuits and survivors’ statements, we see consistent themes across many stories:

• Non-consensual or unnecessary pelvic exams. Lawsuits describe Mulholland performing internal exams that were painful, invasive, or medically unjustified, sometimes after unrelated procedures such as surgery for ovarian cysts or pre-operative visits for hysterectomy.
• Extreme, violating conduct. Another complaint alleges that, after surgery, Mulholland shoved his entire hand into the patient’s vagina without consent, laughed when she cried out in pain, then said “I will only use two fingers” and continued the exam.
• Gloveless exams and boundary violations. Lawsuits and law firm investigations report vaginal examinations performed without gloves, aggressive touching, and physical restraint in exam rooms when patients tried to refuse or leave.
• Inappropriate sexual comments and harassment. Multiple survivors allege that Mulholland made sexually inappropriate or “grotesque” comments during appointments, questioned them about their sex lives in graphic ways, and recorded details about patients’ sexual orientation in ways that felt shaming or discriminatory.
• Unnecessary or non-consensual procedures. Some lawsuits claim he performed or arranged procedures that patients did not understand or did not agree to, including allegations that one patient was effectively sterilized without informed consent when her fallopian tubes were removed.

Taken together, these stories paint a picture of medical sexual abuse carried out in exam rooms, operating rooms, and follow-up visits: sexual abuse masked as treatment.

What Are Survivors Alleging About Kadlec and Providence?

Almost every major filing makes clear that these lawsuits are not just about one doctor. They are also about what Kadlec Regional Medical Center and Providence Health & Services allegedly did, or failed to do, in response to patient complaints and warning signs.

Key allegations include:

• Complaints going back to at least 2003–2005. Lawsuits assert that staff and patients raised concerns many years ago, including reports of sexually inappropriate comments, gloveless vaginal exams, and abusive language. One former employee claims she reported Mulholland’s remarks in 2005 and was told, “That is just Mulholland being Mulholland.”
• Repeated reports, little action. Allegations describe multiple incidents over the years: a teenager’s mother calling to complain that Mulholland badgered her 16-year-old daughter about her sex life, a patient reporting that he physically blocked the door and insisted on a pelvic exam, and another patient reporting a violent exam that left her bleeding.
• Institutional negligence and discrimination. Jane Doe 101 and 102 lawsuits accuse Providence and Kadlec of institutional negligence, failure to protect patients, and sex-based or gender-based discrimination, arguing that leadership put the institution’s reputation and profits ahead of patient safety.
• Alleged “blind eye” to a known risk. Other law firms explicitly allege that Kadlec and Providence knew or should have known that Mulholland posed a risk to patients, yet allowed him to keep practicing for years, creating one of the largest known sexual abuse cases in a Washington medical setting.

These lawsuits argue that negligent institutions failed to keep patients safe and must be held responsible for what occurred as well as for what could have been prevented. Our goal is to make negligent institutions accountable so that similar harm does not happen again.

Why This Matters for Survivors Considering Civil Action

From our perspective as a firm that represents victims, the key points are:

• There is now a documented history of multiple survivors coming forward with similar stories.
• The pattern described in the lawsuits suggests systematic failures by large medical facilities, not a single, isolated incident.
• The Washington Medical Commission and the Department of Health are actively involved, which may generate additional records that can support civil lawsuits.
• Survivors have the right to pursue financial compensation and accountability through civil courts, separate from any regulatory or criminal proceedings.

If you were a patient of Dr. Mulholland at Kadlec or another facility in the Tri-Cities and something about your experience felt wrong, confusing, or violating, you are not alone. We can help you review your medical records, assess your options, and decide whether you want to bring claims against those responsible so that they are properly held accountable.

What Damages Can Victims of Institutional Negligence in Medical Settings Recover?

In an OB/GYN sexual abuse lawsuit, survivors may seek legal damages that reflect both the financial and emotional harm caused by abuse and institutional failure.

Economic damages may include:

• Medical and therapy expenses
• Prescription and treatment costs
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity

Non-economic damages may include:

• Emotional distress and psychological harm
• Loss of dignity, trust, and sense of safety
• Pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life

Punitive damages may be available when conduct shows reckless or extreme disregard for patient safety, and are designed to punish wrongdoing and deter future abuse.

What Laws Govern Medical Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Washington?

A doctor sexual abuse lawsuit in Washington is governed by several key laws and legal principles, including:

• RCW 7.70.030 – Establishes liability for injuries caused by failure to meet the standard of care or lack of consent in medical treatment
• RCW 4.22.070 – Addresses fault and liability among multiple parties, including institutions and professionals
• RCW 26.44.030 – Covers mandatory reporting duties in cases of abuse

In addition, the Washington Supreme Court case Douglas v. Freeman, 117 Wn.2d 242 (1991) confirms that a medical institution can be held liable for negligent supervision if it failed to oversee or intervene despite clear warning signs.

Together, these laws support claims against individual doctors and the institutions that allowed abuse to occur.

How Long Do Medical Abuse Survivors Have to Take Legal Action in Washington?

The sexual abuse statute of limitations in Washington depends on the survivor’s age at the time of abuse and when the harm was discovered.

For abuse occurring before age 18 (RCW 4.16.340), if the abuse happened before June 6, 2024, a survivor generally has 3 years to file a lawsuit from the later of the date of the abusive act, or the date the survivor discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) that the abuse caused their injury. The clock does not begin running until the survivor turns 18, meaning many survivors have at least until age 21, and often longer, to file.

If the abuse occurred on or after June 6, 2024, there is no time limit for filing a civil lawsuit for intentional childhood sexual abuse in Washington.

For adult survivors (RCW 4.16.100), claims based on intentional acts like assault or battery are typically subject to a 2-year deadline.

Because different time limits can apply to the same case, many survivors of sexual abuse still fall within Washington’s extended time limits, even when the abuse occurred years ago. We encourage survivors to reach out so we can evaluate their eligibility and provide survivors with clear guidance on timing and next steps.

Who Can Be Held Liable in Sexual Abuse Cases Involving Dr. Mark Mulholland?

Multiple parties may be named in a civil action, including:

• Dr. Mark Mulholland – for direct acts of abuse and misconduct
• Kadlec Regional Medical Center – for failure to supervise and protect patients
• Hospital administrators or supervisors – who received reports and failed to act
• Medical licensing and oversight bodies – if they failed in their duty to protect patients

How to Strengthen Your Civil Lawsuit Against Dr. Mark Mulholland and the Kadlec Regional Medical Center

If you are considering a hospital sexual abuse lawsuit, we recommend:

• Documenting your experience in detail
• Preserving hospital records and communications
• Writing down names of staff and witnesses
• Seeking medical or psychological support
• Reporting the abuse (if you feel safe doing so)
• Speaking with an experienced attorney early

These steps can significantly strengthen your ability to bring a successful civil claim.

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

At Injury Lawyer Team, we provide dedicated representation throughout the legal process.

We:

• Offer a free, confidential consultation
• Explain your legal options clearly
• Investigate the institution and prior reports
• Gather and preserve critical evidence
• Handle all attorney fees on a contingency
• Pursue maximum legal damages for survivors
• Stand by you until your case resolves

We believe in your case, and we stand with you every step of the way.

FAQs

How common is sexual abuse in medical facilities?

Research shows that medical misconduct, which in many cases amounts to sexual abuse, is more common than most people assume. One major study found that physician sexual misconduct occurs at a rate of about 10.78 per 100,000 licensed physicians per year.

What is a Jane Doe lawsuit?

A Jane or John Doe case allows survivors to press claims anonymously, protecting their identity while pursuing justice.

Do survivors of sexual abuse need to appear in court?

Most cases resolve through settlement before trial, reducing the chance that survivors will need to testify in court.

How long do civil lawsuits take to settle?

How long it takes to settle a sexual abuse lawsuit depends on the complexity of the claims and the defendants’ response. Some settle in months, others take longer.

What is the difference between civil and criminal sexual abuse cases?

The difference between civil and criminal sexual abuse cases is that a criminal case seeks punishment, while a civil case allows survivors to recover financial compensation.

How much does it cost to hire an attorney?

We handle every sexual abuse lawsuit on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

What evidence do victims need to support civil claims?

The evidence needed to support a sexual abuse lawsuit may include medical records, complaints, witness testimony, therapy records, and personal documentation of the abuse.

Book a Free Consultation

If you were abused by Dr. Mulholland or any medical professional at Kadlec, we are here to help you seek justice. We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe nothing unless we win your case.

Contact Injury Lawyer Team today to discuss your options in confidence.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.