Dr. Mark Mulholland Sex Abuse Lawsuit

Growing scrutiny surrounds Dr. Mark E. Mulholland, an obstetrician-gynecologist who practiced in Washington’s Tri-Cities region for more than 20 years, as a wave of women continue to come forward with disturbing accounts of sexual abuse and harassment that allegedly occurred under the guise of routine medical care.

Mulholland served patients at Kadlec Regional Medical Center and affiliated Providence clinics, where former patients say he routinely crossed professional boundaries, made sexual remarks, and performed painful and invasive procedures without consent. Despite receiving numerous complaints dating back to at least 2003, the hospitals reportedly failed to intervene, allowing his conduct to continue unchecked for decades.

If you have a potential claim, contact us today at 888-322-3010 or get a free online case review.

Disturbing Exam Room Conduct Described by Former Patients

Our lawyers have reviewed enough doctor sexual abuse lawsuits to know the pattern. What former patients of Dr. Mark E. Mulholland describe is all too familiar. The exam room, a space meant for safety and care, became the setting for repeated boundary violations, inappropriate behavior, and outright sexual abuse disguised as medical treatment.

Women report being subjected to pelvic exams that were unnecessarily invasive, breast exams conducted without gloves, and routine procedures that quickly turned personal, painful, or sexual in nature. These are not isolated events. The descriptions are consistent and alarming.

Many women say they were given no warning before deeply intrusive exams. One former patient came in for post-operative care and was told Mulholland needed to “check her.” Without explanation, she says he inserted his entire hand into her vagina. When she cried out in pain, he reportedly laughed and responded by saying, “I will only use two fingers,” before continuing the exam. There is no level on which that is not horrible.

Another woman, referred for care related to an ovarian cyst, explained that she had never been sexually active with men. Mulholland allegedly ignored her statement and insisted she must be pregnant. Despite clear ultrasound findings and her own explanation, he would not drop the subject.

Patients also recall being complimented on their appearance during exams. Some say Mulholland commented on their “nice bodies” or said they were “perfect down there.” In one case, after completing a pelvic exam, he allegedly touched a patient’s thigh, winked, and asked if she was single. When she responded that her husband was in the waiting room, the exam ended abruptly.

Several women say they were touched without gloves, had their legs forcibly opened during exams, or were made to feel exposed and humiliated by unnecessary procedures. Some say they were told to relax while the doctor placed his hand on their pubic area or inner thigh. Others say he leaned in too close, made lingering eye contact, or asked about their sexual history in ways that felt invasive and inappropriate.

For many of these women, this was their first experience with an OB-GYN. They trusted that what they were experiencing was part of standard care. But what they describe are not medical exams. These are acts of violation carried out under the mask of authority, while the institutions around him turned a blind eye.

In reviewing these cases, the pattern is unmistakable. The victims were vulnerable. The doctor was in a position of power. And the hospitals allowed it to continue.

Complaints Ignored, Warnings Dismissed

The most disturbing part of these reports may not be what happened in the exam rooms, but what did not happen afterward. Women who voiced concerns about Dr. Mulholland’s behavior say they were met not with investigation or support, but with silence, redirection, or quiet dismissal.

Multiple former patients say they spoke up. They told nurses, medical assistants, and even other physicians at the same clinics. Some filed written complaints. Others made verbal reports in the days or weeks after their appointments. What they were told in return was shockingly consistent. Several women report being advised that they could request to see a different provider. In some cases, they were told, “We have heard that about him before.”

Rather than serving as a warning sign, these repeated concerns were treated as inconveniences. Behind the scenes, medical staff and administrators allegedly shared these complaints among themselves. But no one acted. There is no evidence that hospital leadership conducted a meaningful investigation into the allegations or took steps to restrict Dr. Mulholland’s access to patients.

Even more troubling, internal protocols appear to have steered vulnerable patients toward him. Women who arrived through Kadlec’s emergency department were routinely scheduled for follow-up care with Mulholland, sometimes without being told in advance. Others say they specifically requested female providers, only to find later that Mulholland was listed as their attending physician.

In some cases, staff members reportedly acted as gatekeepers, intercepting complaints and minimizing their seriousness. One clinic manager was allegedly known for brushing off patient concerns and defending Mulholland, even when women described conduct that was clearly inappropriate. Instead of being believed, patients were told that what they experienced was probably normal or misunderstood. Some women reported feeling ashamed and unsure of their right to be upset after leaving appointments.

This institutional indifference did not happen in a vacuum. Providence Health and Kadlec both hold themselves out as organizations committed to dignity, safety, and patient-centered care. They claim to uphold the highest standards of conduct and to encourage patients to speak up about mistreatment. But in practice, these systems appear to have created a closed loop—one in which serious allegations of sexual abuse were known, discussed, and dismissed, all within the walls of the hospitals where the harm occurred.

Mulholland remained in practice for more than twenty years. During that time, it is now clear that staff members, management teams, and risk officers had multiple opportunities to stop the abuse. Instead, they kept scheduling women into exam rooms with a doctor who had already shown, time and again, that he could not be trusted with their care.

Allegations Span Years of Employment

What is remarkable about these cases is that the doctors are not exposed earlier. The reported abuse took place over the course of Mulholland’s long career in the Tri-Cities area. He began practicing in the late 1990s. It helped his cover that he was a good doctor and became one of the most prominent OB-GYNs in the region. Patients trusted that he would provide safe, professional care. Instead, many say they left his office feeling humiliated, confused, and violated.

In addition to individual assaults, many women describe the emotional toll of being gaslit and ignored.  Women walked away with a “wait, did that really happen?” feeling. Several former patients said they convinced themselves that they had simply misunderstood what happened or that the discomfort they experienced was part of standard care. It was not until news of Mulholland’s broader misconduct became public that many realized they were not alone.

Healthcare Systems Under Fire for Inaction

The institutions where Mulholland worked have come under intense criticism for failing to protect patients from preventable harm. Despite being accredited by national safety organizations and publicly claiming to prioritize patient dignity and respect, Kadlec and its parent organizations reportedly allowed Mulholland to continue seeing patients even after receiving multiple warnings over the years.

Some complaints detailed inappropriate comments. Others described unconsented physical contact during intimate examinations. In several cases, women reported being touched without gloves or being subjected to unusually long procedures with no clear purpose.

Rather than remove Mulholland from patient care, the hospitals allowed him to remain in practice while deflecting or ignoring the concerns of patients and staff. In doing so, they permitted a pattern of abuse and harassment to persist across multiple years and dozens of documented interactions.

What Could a MulSettlement Be Worth? 

For many survivors of Dr. Mark E. Mulholland’s alleged abuse, the question is not just about justice, but also about what a potential civil claim could lead to in terms of financial compensation. While no amount of money can erase what happened, a civil settlement can provide meaningful acknowledgment, access to care, and a path toward recovery.

There is no standard settlement payout for these types of claims. We have seen settlements in doctor sex abuse lawsuits that are all over the map. Settlement values in sexual abuse cases vary widely based on several key factors, including:

• Severity and nature of the misconduct

• Duration and frequency of the abuse

• Emotional and psychological harm documented by mental health professionals

• Whether the victim was a minor or adult at the time

• Evidence of prior complaints or institutional negligence

• The venue and jury demographics

• Availability of third-party liability insurance coverage

In general, similar sexual abuse cases involving physicians have resulted in settlements ranging from the low six figures to well over one million dollars per plaintiff. When there is clear evidence that an institution failed to act despite prior complaints, juries have historically awarded larger amounts, particularly when the abuse occurred over a long period of time and impacted numerous patients.

However, every case is different. No attorney can predict or promise a specific result.

Time Limits: What You Need to Know About the Statute of Limitations

For many years, survivors of sexual abuse were blocked from seeking justice by rigid statutes of limitations. In some cases, the deadline to file a lawsuit was as short as three years from the date of the abuse. That meant many individuals who were not ready to come forward were permanently excluded from the legal system.

Washington law has changed. It needs to change even more, no question.  But it is better than it was.

Recent reforms have expanded the rights of survivors, allowing more time to bring civil claims. These changes reflect a deeper understanding of how trauma works and how long it can take for survivors to process what happened and feel safe enough to speak out.

Here is what the law currently allows:

• Adult survivors may still be able to file if they did not fully understand the harm or its connection to the abuse until later in life.

• Individuals abused as minors may have an extended time well beyond age 18.

• In cases involving concealment, fraud, or institutional negligence, courts may apply what is known as the discovery rule. This allows the clock to start when the survivor first reasonably becomes aware that what happened was abuse, or that the institution failed to protect them.

Many women who were treated by Dr. Mark Mulholland say they only recognized their experiences as abuse after learning that other patients had similar stories. This delayed realization is common and can provide legal grounds to file a claim now.. even if the abuse happened years ago.

But the law is not automatic, and deadlines can still apply. Your case and your ability to file a claim will depend on the unique facts of your case.  That is why, sooner rather than later, you want to speak with a sex abuse attorney who understands these issues. They can help determine whether you are still within your rights to file and whether you may be eligible to join coordinated legal actions or settlement discussions.

The law has changed. The system is catching up. But you really want to act right now. 

Patients Seeking Answers and Accountability

Now, more than one hundred women have come forward with stories that paint a damning picture of institutional indifference. Many say they are speaking out not only for themselves but for the countless other patients who may have been harmed and remained silent.

Women who were verbally harassed, sexually abused, or subjected to inappropriate conduct during OB-GYN care are now demanding accountability from the institutions that failed to act. The focus is no longer only on Mulholland, but on the systems that allowed him to thrive.

If Dr. Mark E. Mulholland treated you at Kadlec Regional Medical Center or any affiliated Providence clinic, and you experienced unwanted touching, inappropriate comments, or exams that made you feel unsafe, you may not be alone.

This is not about one bad doctor. This is about an entire system that ignored the warning signs.

Contacting  Our Lawyers for Help

We understand how difficult it can be to come forward. That is why our consultations are always free and 100 percent confidential. You do not pay anything unless we recover compensation on your behalf. We also take a trauma-informed approach to every case. That means we will never pressure you to share more than you are ready to, and we will move at your pace, not ours. Our role is to support you, protect your privacy, and fight for accountability if and when you are ready.

Contact us today at 888-322-3010 or get a free online case review.