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 have filed multiple suits arguing the healthcare system failed to protect patients.
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 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.
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 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 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.
“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
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 attorney Tamara Holder of Tamara Holder Law and Washington co-counsel 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.
“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/ Unfortunately, the amount of time to come forward is not unlimited.
To learn more about the firm's work representing survivors of abuse and discrimination, visit tamaraholderlaw.com/
