Coming out of anesthesia can feel foggy and vulnerable. Maybe you remember pieces of what happened, or you just know something feels off in your body or your gut. It is common to second-guess yourself or worry that nobody will believe you, especially when the experience feels blurry.
Understanding the signs of sexual misconduct under anesthesia gives you language for what happened and helps you decide what to do next. These signs don’t replace a full investigation, but they give you a starting point so you can protect yourself, protect others, and talk with a lawyer or advocate who takes your experience seriously.
Pain in your genitals, anus, or inner thighs that doesn’t match what doctors told you to expect after the procedure is a major red flag. You might notice bruises, scratches, or swelling that no one mentioned before surgery.
Staff may brush it off as “normal” or make you feel dramatic for asking questions. But when your body shows clear signs of sexual contact you didn’t consent to, that deserves attention and documentation.
Before anesthesia, staff remove or adjust clothing only as needed for the procedure, and they should explain what they’re doing. If you wake up and your underwear is missing, moved, or torn without any medical reason, that’s concerning. Clothing bunched around your waist, gowns left wide open, or blankets pulled away from your pelvic area can also point to boundary violations. Your body should stay covered and respected during surgery, especially in sensitive areas.
During surgery and recovery, multiple people move in and out of the room, and there are clear roles for each person. A provider insisting on being alone with you while you’re sedated, half-awake, or just coming out of anesthesia can be a warning sign. Maybe they send other staff away or close curtains when there’s no privacy need. When someone isolates you while you have limited control, it raises questions about whether they’re following proper rules.
Even under anesthesia, some people remember flashes of what happened. You might recall hands on your breasts, genitals, or inner thighs in a way that felt sexual, not medical. You might remember a voice making sexual jokes, commenting on your body, or using slurs. Fragmented memories are still important. Writing down what you remember as soon as possible preserves details that can support a future report or legal case. Those pieces of memory deserve respect.
After a procedure, some spotting or drainage can be normal depending on the surgery. What stands out is discharge from your vagina, anus, or mouth that doesn’t match what your provider described and that feels sexual in nature. You might notice dried fluid on your thighs, buttocks, face, or bedding with no medical explanation. You know your body. Unusual fluids, especially combined with other signs, can indicate sexual contact that you didn’t consent to.
When you ask questions about your pain, bruising, or memories, staff should give clear, consistent answers. If one person says something was part of the procedure and another denies it, that inconsistency matters. You might hear changing stories about who was in the room, when you were moved, or why your clothing came off.
Shifting explanations can signal that providers are protecting each other instead of being honest with you about what happened. You deserve consistent information.
People who commit sexual abuse in medical settings often rely on power and silence. If a provider talks over you, laughs at your questions, or labels you as “confused” without actually listening, that is a problem. Staff might warn that speaking up will hurt your care or make trouble for “a good doctor.” Nobody should pressure you to keep concerns to yourself. You deserve space to ask questions, request records, and talk to someone you trust.
Patients often feel safer when a trusted person waits nearby or sits with them as they fall asleep and wake up. If staff refuse reasonable requests for a support person without a real safety or infection reason, that can be a red flag. Maybe nurses say your partner or friend cannot come back, then you later learn others had someone with them. Blocking you from support can make it easier for someone to cross boundaries while you are vulnerable.
You might wake up from a routine procedure feeling intense shame, fear, or disgust that you can’t explain. Nightmares, flashes of the operating room, or panic when you return to that facility can appear in the days and weeks afterward. Trauma responses like these can show up even if your memories feel incomplete. A therapist, advocate, or lawyer experienced with medical sexual abuse can help you sort through what you’re feeling.
Sometimes you learn later that other patients or staff have raised concerns about the same doctor, anesthesiologist, or nurse. You might see news coverage, social media posts, or court documents about sexual misconduct allegations involving your provider or facility. Even casual comments that a provider is “creepy” can carry weight when they line up with your experience. Patterns matter. Repeated complaints can support your story and show a history of boundary violations.
These signs of sexual misconduct under anesthesia don’t prove what happened, but they give you reasons to ask questions. When you keep notes, save records, and talk with trusted supporters, you get information that helps you decide whether to file a complaint, report the provider, or pursue a legal case.
If you believe you have a case against your provider, you don’t have to navigate this process alone. The team at Tamara N. Holder has taken on countless cases involving doctor sexual assaults on patients, and has fought for accountability and compensation for survivors. We’ll listen without judgment, explain your options, and give you an honest assessment of your potential case. Let us review what happened and talk with you about possible next steps.
Feb. 20, 2026
By Elise Takahama, Seattle Times health reporter
A Richland OB-GYN has been accused of medically and sexually abusing patients for years, with a state investigation and a flood of lawsuits outlining conduct ranging from invasive touching to performing major surgeries without consent.
At least 17 women have sued Dr. Mark Mulholland in King County Superior Court since August, detailing alleged instances of unprofessional conduct, verbal abuse and pelvic exams that were not medically necessary, sometimes painful and performed without gloves. The lawsuits also name Mulholland’s former employer, Providence Health & Services, headquartered in Renton, asserting that patient complaints were disregarded.
An additional 31 patients have filed lawsuits in King County Superior Court with similar allegations against Mulholland — but that solely name Providence and its Kadlec obstetrics and gynecology clinic, where he worked, as defendants.
The lawsuits come amid an investigation by the Washington Medical Commission that so far has resulted in the panel imposing restrictions on Mulholland’s medical license. Mulholland still has an active physician and surgeon license in Washington, but, per the commission, is not allowed to work with female patients while the state investigation continues.
Mulholland has not been criminally charged. Police in Richland said Thursday they are investigating.
Mulholland’s license, which he’s held for 26 years, comes up for renewal in March. It’s not clear if he will seek to renew it.
Attorneys for Mulholland did not respond to requests for comment, but have denied allegations in court documents, rejecting “any implications of negligence, liability, proximate cause.”
Providence is accused in the lawsuits of corporate negligence, and violating state discrimination and consumer protection laws. The 40 filings, with some filed by more than one patient, include plaintiff allegations from 2016 to 2025.
Emily Volland, director of communication for Providence’s Southeast Washington area, said she could not comment on ongoing litigation or the state investigation.
“We take our patient’s safety very seriously and are fully cooperating with the state in this matter,” Volland wrote in a statement.
The patients with medical malpractice claims are represented by Elizabeth Hanley, an attorney with Schroeter Goldmark & Bender in Seattle, and Tamara Holder, an attorney with Chicago-based Tamara Holder Law firm. In all, their teams have spoken with about 200 patients who say they were harmed by Mulholland, according to Hanley and Holder.
“I hope that we can resolve this case in a way that provides a meaningful outcome for the women who have been abused,” said Holder, who went to high school in Kennewick.
Range of complaints
Patient complaints about Mulholland date back more than 20 years, but it wasn’t until the state medical board brought disciplinary charges in April that a fuller scope of the accusations against the doctor emerged.
The Tri-City Herald and other local media covered the board’s actions, leading other patients to reach out to attorneys to inquire about possible legal claims, Holder said.
In one of the lawsuits, filed Aug. 25 by Hanley’s and Holder’s team, a patient identified as “Jane Doe 104” said Mulholland gave a “rough and aggressive” pelvic exam in 2023 that led her to scream out in pain. She told a supervisor at Kadlec’s Associated Physicians for Women clinic, the lawsuit says. The supervisor said they would look into it and call her back, but she was never contacted, the lawsuit says.
A few weeks later, the patient went to Richland police, but the department declined to further investigate. According to the case report, part of which is included in the Aug. 25 lawsuit, there was not enough evidence of a crime as the alleged misconduct “occurred during a medical examination,” an officer wrote.
Richland police Cmdr. Damon Jansen noted in an email to The Seattle Times that while law enforcement officers can investigate alleged incidents that occur during medical exams, “it is not something that happens with great frequency … due to a myriad of reasons.”
Jansen declined to elaborate on what those reasons might include.
In another lawsuit, which includes a claim of medical battery among other violations, Jane Doe 109 alleges that in 2023, she thought she would be undergoing a labiaplasty, but Mulholland ended up performing a much more major surgery — one that removed both her fallopian tubes, which left her unable to conceive. She did not consent to that procedure, the lawsuit says.
Jane Doe 110, who was 15 during her first pregnancy and when she became Mulholland’s patient, alleges he did an invasive examination without gloves. She had received hardly any gynecological care before meeting Mulholland in 2016.
It wasn’t until 2024, when she became pregnant again and started seeing a different provider for prenatal care, that she began questioning Mulholland’s behavior.
Her new provider expressed concern after the patient described his actions.
She also reported Mulholland to Richland police, the lawsuit says.
Jansen said police have not questioned Mulholland, but the department is investigating multiple allegations against him.
State inquiry
Since the Washington Medical Commission made its findings against Mulholland in April, the board has received at least 26 similar complaints about him, said Kyle Karinen, the commission’s executive director.
“That’s fairly unusual for us,” Karinen said. “I’ve worked here for a number of years and I can’t remember quite that number of complaints flowing in” after initial disciplinary charges were filed.
“That’s incredibly concerning,” he added.
The medical commission — run by 21 governor-appointed members — is housed within the state Department of Health and tasked with licensing and regulating physicians, physician assistants and certified anesthesiology assistants.
The commission’s April charges referenced reports from three patients who saw Mulholland between 2022 and 2024, during which he allegedly asked questions that made them uncomfortable and inappropriately touched them.
The commission ordered restrictions on Mulholland’s license in September.
In December, the medical commission updated its charges with accusations from six more patients alleging misconduct between 2017 and 2024. The additional patients described appointments where Mulholland allegedly instructed them to use sex toys, told them to call his personal cellphone, body-shamed them and made jokes about their vaginas, the charges say. The commission added sexual misconduct to its list of alleged violations.
The state group is reviewing four other accusations related to Mulholland, with several more “authorized for investigation” after those, Karinen said.
Mulholland has the opportunity to defend himself at an administrative hearing, where he can testify in front of a commission panel and state investigators will present evidence, Karinen said. After that, commission members will vote on what to do with Mulholland’s license.
A hearing has not yet been scheduled.
“The commission takes these cases incredibly seriously,” Karinen said. “These are a priority … and we devote an immense amount of resources into investigating these cases.”
‘Institutional failure’
In addition to bringing claims against Mulholland, Holder said the lawsuits are about “institutional failure” at Providence Kadlec.
According to the lawsuits, patients complained about him to the clinic’s staff, supervisors and its patient relations department, but felt their concerns were dismissed or ignored.
“One of the most shocking details is that after the Washington Medical Commission’s filing on April 29, (Providence) continued to allow him to work unchaperoned and without notifying patients,” Holder said.
Volland, of Providence, said Mulholland is no longer employed by Kadlec, but declined to answer questions about when he stopped practicing there.
Providence has locations in Alaska, Montana, Oregon, California and Washington.
The other lawsuits that reference Mulholland but do not name him as a defendant also include allegations of sexual abuse during medical appointments. But their claims are against Providence, Kadlec Regional Medical Center and the Associated Physicians for Women clinic, which the lawsuits argue “should have known that Dr. Mulholland was sexually abusing patients.” In cases like these, Hanley said there may be an “instinct by people to point the finger at one person.” “But I also think there needs to be more than lip service by corporate medicine as to what it means to treat women,” she said.
When there are “this many complaints over decades,” Providence has an obligation to “investigate those and take care of them,” Hanley said.
Because there are separate filings against Mulholland, there will likely be multiple civil trials. The first is scheduled for August, though the date could change as the cases progress.
It’s a situation no one should ever face, yet it happens. You go to a doctor for a routine exam, a check-up, or to address a health concern, and the person you trust to care for you violates that trust in the most profound way. What happens next? You're likely feeling confused, hurt, and unsure of what to do. It’s important for you to know your rights after a gynecological exam assault. Understanding what constitutes assault and what steps you can take is the first move toward holding the responsible party accountable.
One of the most fundamental rights you have as a patient is informed consent. This means a doctor must explain what they’re going to do before they do it. They can’t just perform a procedure or an examination without your permission.
If a doctor performs an exam that you didn't agree to, that’a a violation of your rights. Consent is an ongoing process. Just because you agreed to an appointment doesn't mean you agreed to everything the doctor might decide to do. You have the right to say "stop" at any time. If a provider continues after you withdraw consent, that’s a serious issue. You deserve to be in control of your own body at all times.
Many people don't realize they have the right to ask for a chaperone in the room during an intimate exam. A chaperone is a third party—usually a nurse or medical assistant—who witnesses the exam to make sure everything remains professional.
If your doctor refuses to allow a chaperone or makes you feel guilty for asking, that’s a red flag. Medical boards and hospital policies almost always support the use of chaperones. If you requested one and were denied, or if a chaperone policy was ignored, it strengthens your case that your rights were violated.
Doctors are held to strict ethical standards. There’s a clear boundary between a medical exam and inappropriate touching. A gynecological exam is medical, not sexual. Any touching that has no medical purpose is a violation.
It can be hard to tell the difference in the moment because of the power dynamic. Doctors are authority figures. We’re trained to listen to them. But if the provider made personal remarks, asked invasive questions about your sex life that weren't medically relevant, or made you feel objectified, they failed in their duty of care. You have a right to be treated with dignity, not as an object.
After an incident, you might feel afraid to speak up. You might worry that no one will believe you or that the doctor’s reputation will overshadow your experience. It’s your right to report the abuse to medical boards, law enforcement, and hospital administration. You should never feel intimidated into silence.
Retaliation from a medical provider is illegal. They can’t threaten your health care access or try to smear your reputation because you filed a complaint. Reporting is a brave step. It puts the incident on record. Even if the process feels slow, lodging a formal complaint creates a paper trail that can be vital later on.
Your medical records belong to you. After an assault or a suspicious exam, those records become evidence. You have the legally protected right to request a full copy of your chart. These notes show what the doctor claimed happened during the visit.
Sometimes, what is written in the chart doesn't match what actually happened in the room. A doctor might omit details or describe a procedure differently to cover their tracks. Getting these records early prevents them from being altered later. Reviewing them can be painful, but it is often necessary to prove that the care provided didn’t match the documentation.
Beyond reporting to a medical board, you have the right to pursue civil justice. The criminal justice system punishes the offender, but the civil system is there to help you recover. This can include compensation for the emotional distress, therapy costs, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the trauma.
Civil lawsuits hold providers and the institutions that employ them accountable. Hospitals and clinics have a duty to hire safe doctors and supervise them properly. If they failed to protect you, they’re liable. Filing a lawsuit isn’t just about money; it is about acknowledgement. It forces the system to admit that what happened to you was wrong.
You never have to go back to a doctor who hurt you. You have the absolute right to terminate the patient-doctor relationship immediately. You also have the right to transfer your care to a new provider without harassment.
Finding a new doctor after an assault can be terrifying. It takes time to rebuild trust. But you deserve medical care that feels safe. You can ask potential new providers about their policies on chaperones and consent before you even make an appointment. Taking control of who treats you is a major part of your healing journey. You’re the boss of your healthcare decisions.
If you decide to take legal action or file a report, you might worry about your privacy. Sexual assault cases often involve sensitive details. But the legal system has protections in place for victims of sexual misconduct. You have rights regarding how your name and medical history are handled during investigations.
Lawyers who specialize in this field know how to file documents that protect your identity whenever possible. Your trauma doesn’t need to become public gossip. This allows you to be completely honest about what happened without fear of judgment or exposure.
It’s important to know that your right to sue doesn’t last forever. Every state has a "statute of limitations," which is a deadline for filing a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to seek justice in court.
This timeline varies depending on where you live and the specific nature of the assault. It can be confusing to figure out exactly how much time you have. That is why speaking to a lawyer sooner rather than later is so helpful. They can look at the calendar and tell you exactly what your timeline looks like. Don't let the clock run out on your rights because you didn't know the rules.
The most important thing to remember is that help is available. This experience can feel isolating, but there are advocates ready to support you. You don't have to carry the weight of this trauma by yourself. There are people who fight for patients like you every single day.
If you've experienced this kind of violation and want to understand your options, contact Tamara N. Holder. We're a team of feminist lawyers dedicated to getting you the justice you deserve. We understand that it takes immense courage to come forward, and we want to help you know your rights after a gynecological exam assault. A doctor sexual assault on a patient is a severe breach of trust and a violation of your rights, and you don't have to face the aftermath alone. We’re here to listen, to believe you, and to fight for the justice you’re owed.
Sexual assault remains a pervasive issue on college campuses across the United States. Fraternities, in particular, have come under intense scrutiny for creating environments where such violence can occur. When a survivor experiences sexual assault at a fraternity, they face the trauma of the event itself and confusion about their legal options.
Can fraternities be sued for sexual assault? The answer is yes, and survivors have multiple avenues to pursue justice. But holding these organizations accountable requires understanding the legal landscape and the responsibilities fraternities have to protect students. Let's explore how fraternities can be held liable, what legal options survivors have, and why taking action matters.
If you’ve experienced sexual assault at a fraternity, there are ways to hold them accountable. Different legal options can help you seek justice and compensation for what happened.
Fraternities face direct liability when their own actions or policies contribute to an assault. This occurs when the organization knew about dangerous conditions or patterns of behavior yet failed to intervene.
For example, if a fraternity has a documented history of sexual misconduct complaints but continues hosting unsupervised parties with excessive alcohol, that organization may bear direct responsibility for subsequent assaults. The fraternity's deliberate disregard for student safety creates a clear link between organizational decisions and harm.
Organizations can also be held vicariously liable for the actions of their members. Under this legal theory, the fraternity becomes responsible for assaults committed by members acting within the scope of their membership or during official fraternity activities.
When an assault occurs at a fraternity-sponsored event, the organization may be vicariously liable even if the perpetrator acted alone. The fraternity provided the venue, controlled access, and created the conditions where the assault took place.
Fraternities own or control their houses and event spaces. Property owners have a legal duty to maintain safe premises for guests. When they fail to meet this responsibility, premises liability claims become viable.
Inadequate lighting, broken locks, lack of security, or overcrowded conditions all constitute breaches of this duty. If these unsafe conditions contribute to a sexual assault, the fraternity may be liable for failing to provide a secure environment.
If you're considering legal action against a fraternity, know that there are clear legal avenues to pursue. Among these include proving their negligence, their failure to warn, or other ways they might be responsible for what happened. There are different types of claims that can help you seek justice.
Negligence claims require proving four elements: the fraternity owed a duty of care, they breached that duty, the breach caused harm, and damages resulted. Fraternities breach their duty of care when they ignore warning signs, fail to implement safety measures, or allow dangerous situations to persist.
Consider a fraternity that continues serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated guests. If an assault occurs, the organization's negligent alcohol service could establish liability.
Organizations aware of specific dangers must warn potential victims. If a fraternity knows that a member has a history of sexual misconduct but fails to warn other students or take protective action, that silence can constitute liability.
Sweeping complaints under the rug or protecting predatory members from consequences represents a failure to warn that puts additional students at risk.
Colleges and their affiliated organizations have a fundamental duty to provide safe environments for students. Fraternities breach this duty when they cultivate cultures that normalize sexual violence, discourage reporting, or retaliate against survivors.
This claim extends beyond individual incidents to challenge the systemic problems within Greek organizations that perpetuate assault.
When sexual assault happens within a fraternity, the blame often goes beyond just the individual perpetrator. The fraternity, its leaders, and even the university might share responsibility for failing to prevent harm and provide a safe space.
The fraternity chapter where the assault occurred typically bears primary responsibility. Local chapters organize events, control properties, and directly oversee member conduct.
National fraternity organizations can also face liability. These governing bodies set policies, provide training, and oversee local chapters. When national organizations ignore patterns of misconduct across chapters or fail to enforce safety standards, they may be held accountable.
Individual fraternity members who commit assault obviously bear personal liability. This liability also extends to fraternity officers or members who enabled the assault, covered it up, or created dangerous conditions, as they too may face individual claims.
Additionally, fraternity presidents, social chairs, or other leadership who organized unsafe events or ignored complaints can be named as defendants alongside the organization.
Colleges and universities may also be liable if they failed to respond appropriately to reports of fraternity misconduct or allowed dangerous organizations to continue operating despite known risks.
For survivors looking to pursue legal action against a fraternity, it's a difficult path, but it can be done. What you'll need is careful preparation and strong, clear evidence. Taking these steps is the first move toward building a case and seeking justice.
Survivors should seek medical attention immediately after an assault. Medical records provide documentation of injuries and can preserve forensic evidence. Additionally, reporting the assault to campus police or local law enforcement creates an official record of the incident.
Proving fraternity liability requires demonstrating the organization's role in creating or failing to prevent the assault. Evidence like past instances of similar conduct, a failure to enforce safety policies, or promoting a culture that normalizes dangerous behavior all point to the organization's liability.
Sexual assault cases against fraternities involve complex legal questions and powerful defendants with substantial resources. Survivors need experienced attorneys who understand campus sexual assault law, organizational liability, and the tactics fraternities use to avoid accountability.
Civil lawsuits against fraternities can result in substantial compensation for survivors. Damages may include medical expenses for physical and mental health treatment, lost wages if the assault impacts work or school performance, and pain and suffering compensation for trauma, emotional distress, and lasting psychological harm.
Additionally, courts sometimes award punitive damages in cases involving particularly egregious conduct. These damages punish defendants and deter future misconduct.
Beyond financial compensation, lawsuits force fraternities to acknowledge their role in perpetuating sexual violence. Public accountability can drive policy changes and protect future students.
Can fraternities be sued for sexual assault? Yes, and they should be. Fraternities that create environments where sexual assault occurs or fail to protect students from predators must face consequences. Survivors deserve justice, compensation, and the satisfaction of holding powerful organizations accountable.
Tamara N. Holder’s female rights lawyers are dedicated to helping survivors seek justice for sexual assault and harassment. You don't have to suffer in silence. If you believe you have a case, contact our compassionate legal team today for a confidential consultation. We'll listen to your story, explain your options, and fight relentlessly for the justice you deserve.
This article was published by Austin Reed at Apple Valley News on Nov 12, 2025 Updated Nov 16, 2025.
RICHLAND, Wash. — Multiple civil lawsuits are raising questions about patient safety and oversight in women’s healthcare.
The lawsuits center around a longtime Tri-Cities OBGYN, and they claim that both the doctor and the hospital system failed to protect patients. But beyond the legal fight, this is also sparking a conversation about how to rebuild trust in healthcare.
When you make an appointment with your doctor, it's about more than just your schedule. The relationship between patient and doctor should be about respect and above all, trust -- trust that you are getting information or doing things that will help you live a happy and healthy life.
But what happens when that trust is shattered
"My life will never be the same,” said a former patient of Dr. Mark Mulholland, a doctor and surgeon in Richland. “I don't view doctors the same, I don't view medical procedures the same. I question everything and I don't view intimacy the same anymore."
According to the National Institutes of Health, commonly referred to as the NIH, there isn't a lot of data that measures the extent of sexual abuse of patients by their doctors.
The reason?
Abuse goes largely underreported. Patients often times are consumed by guilt, shame, and even shock that it happened to them.
Rosanna Herrera is executive director of SARC in the Tri-Cities. SARC provides advocacy and support to survivors of crime.
"Some may even question themselves and wonder if they are overreacting,” Herrera explained. “Is this something? Should I say anything? Is my feeling valid?"
Another factor the NIH says is that even when sexual misconduct by a licensed physician is reported, very few cases are acted upon.
"That healing journey is different for each person,” Herrera said. “They may not want to go get medical care in the future. They may feel like or prolong accessing medical care because they are worried about their experience."
The topic has been put front and center locally after a Richland doctor and surgeon is under investigation by the Washington Medical Commission after being accused of having inappropriate boundaries and unprofessional conduct, including that of a sexual nature, toward his patients.
For more than two decades, Dr. Mark Mulholland practiced in Richland and was affiliated with Kadlec Regional Medical Center and its Associated Physicians for Women Clinic.
Since July, dozens of women have filed civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct and performing procedures without consent.
According to the statement of charges from the Washington Medical Commission Dr. Mulholland is accused of commenting about patients' bodies such as “body shaming” them for being overweight, or making sexual comments about body parts like their breasts and vaginas.
Patients say Doctor Mulholland would also comment about their sexual activity at length that didn't relate to a medical purpose and some patients even accuse him of touching, rubbing, or grabbing them inappropriately.
The women involved in these lawsuits say their experiences left lasting trauma. Those claims are now part of the civil filings.
"I tend to be vigilant more so now,” said another former patient. “I've done enough work to understand that this experience isn't isolated."
Attorneys representing the women say these accounts reflect warning signs seen in other states.
I just settled the largest doctor–patient sexual abuse case in Illinois’ history,” said attorney Tamara Holder, who represents some of the former patients of Dr. Mulholland. “My dad lives in Richland. He sent me the article about Mulholland and my phone went off the hook.”
Holder and co-counsel Elizabeth Hanley have filed multiple suits arguing the healthcare system failed to protect patients.
“When you’re giving birth or in an emergency situation, you need to be safe,” Hanley said. “Institutions must make sure the person they send you to won’t take advantage of that.”
It's not just Doctor Mulholland under fire. It's also Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Attorneys for the women say the hospital failed to protect patients and the state medical commission says complaints made about Dr. Mulholland's behavior toward patients and staff were often rationalized, normalized and minimized, meaning patients say they weren't taken seriously.
Kadlec Regional Medical Center declined to comment on the pending litigation, but confirmed Dr. Mulholland is not currently practicing at their clinic.
Dr. Mulholland has not been criminally charged. We asked the Richland Police Department if it has an active investigation regarding Dr. Mulholland. They did not provide specific records but did tell us some records we requested are part of an active investigation.
A 2016 nationwide investigation by the U.S. National Practitioner Data Bank found that for the thousands of medical board orders for doctors who were disciplined for having a sex related offense of a patient since 1999, more than half of them were still licensed to practice.
Furthermore, the same analysis shows that medical boards did not discipline 70% of the physicians who had peer-review sanctions or malpractice payments made on their behalf due to sexual misconduct.
Advocates say even as these cases move through civil court, there’s an urgent need to rebuild trust in healthcare.
"When survivors come to us, they’re often scared and unsure where to start," Herrera said. "We connect them to counseling, legal advocacy, and medical accompaniment so they don’t have to face the system alone."
Statewide, Washington now requires written consent for pelvic exams on unconscious patients. Hospitals are also reinforcing chaperone policies and staff training.
"I'm not just in this for myself,” a former patient of Dr. Mulholland’s said. “I'm in this to speak up for the women who don't want to come forward. Who don't want to speak up. Who are afraid to speak up. Who did speak up but got ignored. Whose complaints somehow disappeared. I want to be all those people's voice."
Bottom line, these lawsuits are about more than one doctor.
They’re about accountability, trust and making sure patient safety is never just a policy on paper.
SARC says anyone who believes they’ve experienced sexual misconduct in a medical setting can call their 24-hour confidential hotline at 509-374-5391.
The lawsuits against Dr. Mulholland are still pending.
The Washington Medical Commission has ordered Dr. Mulholland to restrictions in his practice. He is not to engage in the practice of medicine with any biologically female patients or those who identify as female, including in a consulting role.
Dr. Mulholland's license to practice is currently active
According to a recent article by the Tri-City Herald, the Washington Medical Commission has issued an interim order prohibiting Tri-Cities OB-GYN Dr. Mark Mulholland from treating any female patients amid mounting allegations from more than 100 women who say he sexually abused them under the guise of legitimate medical care. Under the agreement, Mulholland may not provide care to women in any capacity until the licensing charges are resolved.
While Mulholland did not admit or deny the allegations, the Commission’s charges describe a disturbing pattern of behavior between 2022 and 2024, layered on top of more than two decades of patient complaints. Allegations include inappropriate comments about women’s bodies, sexually suggestive remarks, aggressive and unnecessary pelvic exams, and other abusive conduct. According to the Commission, complaints were repeatedly “rationalized, normalized, and minimized,” leading to years of women’s concerns being dismissed by Providence St. Joseph and Kadlec Regional Medical Center.
The licensing order comes as civil and criminal actions continue to mount. At least 18 lawsuits have been filed in King County Superior Court, with patients alleging sexual assault, misconduct during exams, and even forced sterilization. Two criminal complaints have also been filed with the Richland Police Department.
Patients represented in these lawsuits describe a consistent pattern of abuse under the guise of legitimate medical care. Allegations range from inappropriate sexual comments during exams to physical assault, and even cases of forced sterilization. Despite repeated complaints to Kadlec Regional Medical Center and its parent company, Providence, patients say their concerns were ignored or dismissed.
Patients describe a consistent pattern: abuse disguised as medical care, coupled with institutional negligence that allowed Mulholland to continue practicing. These lawsuits aim to hold both Mulholland — and the institutions that enabled him — accountable for decades of harm. And as the cases progress, more women continue to come forward with their stories.
If You Have Information:
If you or someone you know has been mistreated by Dr. Mulholland, we encourage you to reach out to SGB and tell your story. Time to come forward may be limited.
Jane Doe 105 accuses Dr. Mark Mulholland of removing her fallopian tubes without her knowledge; Providence and Kadlec ignored her complaints
SEATTLE - Jane Doe 105 is the latest to file a new lawsuit amid mounting allegations against Dr. Mark Mulholland, a Tri-Cities OB-GYN who practiced for over 20 years at Providence St. Joseph Health and Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Ms. Doe is represented by Elizabeth Hanley and Julie Kline of Seattle’s Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, alongside Tamara Holder of Tamara Holder Law in Chicago.
Jane Doe 105 met Mulholland after being admitted to Kadlec Hospital in 2016 due to severe concerns around her pregnancy, including hypertension and pre-eclampsia, which compromised both her and her unborn child’s health and safety.
Ms. Doe recalls a nurse suggesting tubal ligation as her medical team prepared to deliver her baby via caesarean section. She was reassured that a tubal ligation, more commonly known as “getting your tubes tied” was an entirely reversible procedure, as Ms. Doe had expressly stated she was interested in growing her family further following this pregnancy.
During the procedure, Ms. Doe recalls hearing a nurse over the privacy curtain ask Mulholland why he was performing the tubal ligation in that manner – Mulholland responded, “Insurance pays more this way.”
Following the procedure, Ms. Doe experienced severe complications, including irregular periods, hot flashes, and extreme fatigue, all symptoms consistent with menopause and not expected after a standard caesarean section or tubal ligation.
Nearly ten years later in 2024, Ms. Doe was ready to continue growing her family. After meeting with a fertility specialist, Ms. Doe and her husband’s worlds were turned upside down. The specialist informed them that she would not be able to reverse her tubal ligation, as Mulholland had entirely removed her fallopian tubes. Ms. Doe was left sterilized against her will by Mulholland.
Ms. Doe complained to the hospital, but her complaints were ignored.
“Mulholland’s conduct in this case is unconscionable,” said Hanley. “He took away our client’s right to decide if and when to grow her family, a fundamental right that belongs to every woman. This is not just malpractice; it’s a profound abuse of trust. Providence and Kadlec had every opportunity to stop him, yet they failed, again, to protect their patients.”
Holder added, “This case reveals how a healthcare institution gave a male doctor unfettered power over and access over hundreds of female patients’ bodies over dozens of years. Due to Mulholland’s alleged abuse, our client now lives with the irreversible consequences. We will not rest until we have held every person and institution accountable for turning a blind eye to Mulholland’s conduct.”
Jane Doe 105’s lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating the Washington Law Against Discrimination, corporate negligence by the hospitals, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
If you or someone you know has information about Mark Mulholland or the institutions where he worked, please reach out as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the amount of time to come forward is limited.
To learn more about the firms’ work representing survivors of abuse and discrimination, visit: sgb-law.com or tamaraholderlaw.com/.
Another Case Alleges Providence and Kadlec Ignored Patient Complaints of Abuse
SEATTLE – Following two similar sexual abuse lawsuits, Jane Doe 102, represented by attorneys Elizabeth Hanley of Schroeter Goldmark & Bender (SGB) in Seattle and Tamara Holder of Tamara Holder Law in Chicago, has filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court. The complaint contributes to the growing number of female patients coming forward with allegations of physical abuse or sexual abuse by Mark E. Mulholland, a Tri-Cities OBGYN who worked for Providence St. Joseph Health and Kadlec Regional Medical Center, in Richland, Washington, from 1999 through June 2025.
Jane Doe 102 alleges that during an appointment in 2022, Mulholland explicitly asked her about her sex life and noted in her chart that she was a lesbian “and has never been in relationships with men.” During the appointment, a pre-operative meeting before Jane Doe 102’s hysterectomy, Mulholland performed a pelvic “exam” without informed consent and without explaining its purpose. Shoving his fingers inside her, he said, “You’re really tight in there.”
According to Jane Doe’s lawsuit, she worried that if she immediately complained, she risked affecting her upcoming medical care which included a hysterectomy. After surgery, however, she reached out to multiple people within the hospital’s hierarchy, including its CEO, and yet she received no response.
“Not only Dr. Mulholland, but Kadlec Providence, too, have failed these women,” said Hanley. “Had the institution responded properly to complaints by the hundreds of women who raised concerns about the numerous red flags and acts of abuse they experienced, we wouldn’t be in this position begging for answers and justice for so many victims.”
“Providence and Kadlec claim to be ‘the leading health care organization in the region’ while enjoying not-for-profit tax-exempt status. And despite allegedly being “committed to its mission of providing safe, compassionate care,” we have heard from hundreds of women who say this institution has chosen profits over female patient safety. ” Holder added
Jane Doe 102’s lawsuit accuses the defendants of gender-abusive conduct, failure to protect patients, and institutional negligence.
If you or someone you know has information about Mark Mulholland, OBGYN, or the institutions where he worked, please reach out to tamaraholderlaw.com/ or SGB as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the amount of time to come forward is not unlimited.
To learn more about the firms’ work representing survivors of abuse and discrimination, visit: tamaraholderlaw.com/ or sgb-law.com.
Growing Number of Female Patients Allege Providence and Kadlec Ignored Complaints of Doctor Sexual Abuse
SEATTLE – A new lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court by Jane Doe 101, represented by attorneys Elizabeth Hanley of Schroeter Goldmark & Bender and Tamara Holder of Tamara Holder Law, adds to the mounting allegations of sexual abuse and gender-based discrimination against Tri-Cities OB-GYN Mark Mulholland.
Jane Doe 101 alleges that in 2022, after surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, Mulholland subjected her to a painful and unnecessary pelvic “exam” at Kadlec Clinic, in Richland, where he shoved his entire hand inside her vagina without informed consent or an explanation. When she cried out in pain, Mulholland laughed, withdrew his hand, then said, “I will only use two fingers,” before continuing the invasive “exam.”
The complaint further alleges that Mulholland ignored Jane Doe’s medical needs, made dismissive comments about her medical concerns, and exploited his position of trust as her first gynecologist. Jane Doe 101 revealed that she did not recognize the conduct as sexual abuse until recently, when she learned that Mulholland was under investigation for assaulting other patients.
Jane Doe 101’s lawsuit signals a pattern of misconduct stretching back more than two decades. Since as early as 2003, Providence and Kadlec began receiving complaints about Mulholland engaging in suspicious behavior including unnecessary, and gloveless pelvic “exams;” as well as fat-shaming and abusive language yet the institutions allowed him to continue seeing patients until June of this year.
“Mulholland’s behavior with Jane Doe 101 was not an isolated incident, it was part of a decades-long pattern that Kadlec and Providence ignored,” said Hanley. “The survivors who continue to come forward today are playing a critical role – not only does it signal that this behavior is unacceptable, but they are giving other survivors the courage to come forward and share their story.”
“As a Kamiakin graduate myself, these cases hit close to home,” added Holder. “Our clients were failed twice: first by their doctor, then by the very institutions that promised safe, respectful care. We are devoted to obtaining justice for our clients, and to exposing how Providence and Kadlec profited off Mulholland’s alleged abuse rather than protecting the community.”
Jane Doe 101’s lawsuit accuses the defendants of sex-based discrimination, failure to protect patients, and institutional negligence.
If you or someone you know has information about Mark Mulholland or the institutions where he worked, please reach out to tamaraholderlaw.com/ or SGB as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the amount of time to come forward is not unlimited.
To learn more about the firms’ work representing survivors of abuse and discrimination, visit: sgb-law.com or tamaraholderlaw.com/.
