Dr. Michael Wilmington Abuse Investigation: Information for Former Patients and Families
Former patients and families of Dr. Michael R. Wilmington are facing difficult questions after public reports that the longtime Vancouver, Washington pediatrician was under investigation for child molestation and child pornography before his death.
According to the Vancouver Police Department, the investigation began after a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about the distribution of child pornography. Police later arrested Chad Hartley and reported that Hartley was associated with Dr. Wilmington, who allegedly hosted naked sleepovers with young children at his La Center residence. Police also reported that a search warrant was served at Dr. Wilmington’s home, evidence was seized, and a felony warrant was issued for Dr. Wilmington for the criminal charge of Child Molestation I. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Wilmington was found deceased in Lewis County.
PCVA Law represents a number of Dr. Wilmington’s former patients who allege he used his position as a doctor to sexually abuse them. We are in the process of investigating those claims, including the extent to which Kaiser Permanente knew or should have known that Dr. Wilmington was sexually abusing child patients at their facilities.
If you or your child were a patient of Dr. Wilmington and experienced inappropriate comments or touching, unusual exams, unnecessary nudity, photographs, or any other conduct that may have been grooming or sexually abusive behavior, you may have a legal claim.
Why this page exists
This page is intended to be a central information hub for former patients of Dr. Wilmington, including parents, guardians, witnesses, medical staff, and others who may have information about his conduct.
As more survivors of Dr. Wilmington come forward, many people are asking the same questions:
- Was what happened to me or my child inappropriate?
- Did other people report concerns before?
- Could Kaiser Permanente or another institution be responsible?
- What should I do if I remember something now?
- Can I still bring a claim if the abuse happened years ago?
- What if Dr. Wilmington is deceased?
PCVA Law is gathering information, speaking with survivors and their families, and investigating whether Kaiser Permanente or other institutions failed to act on complaints or warning signs about Dr. Wilmington’s conduct with children.
Latest update: Kaiser, lawsuits, and expanding investigation
PCVA Law filed the first lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente on behalf of Jane Doe 1, a former patient of Dr. Wilmington who alleges he sexually abused her numerous times from approximately 2000 to 20006 at Kaiser Permanente Salmon Creek Medical Office. In her lawsuit, Jane Doe 1 claims Kaiser Permanente knew or should have known that Dr. Wilmington posed a danger to her and its other child patients, but it failed to take reasonable steps to protect them. Jane Doe 1 alleges multiple survivors have come forward and described a consistent pattern of inappropriate conduct during medical appointments and examinations over decades.
Local news reports have also covered a range of allegations regarding Dr. Wilmington and his medical practice, including allegations that he may have used his position as a pediatrician to participate in trafficking child pornography. KATU reported that at least 50 people had come forward with allegations or concerns involving Dr. Wilmington as of the week of May 11, 2026. The Columbian reported on May 15, 2026, that Kaiser Permanente hired a third party to investigate claims involving the late pediatrician.
What former patients are reporting
Survivors and families have reported a range of abusive and concerning behavior by Dr. Wilmington:
- Unnecessary or prolonged genital, breast, or full-body examinations
- Examinations without gloves
- Examinations without a chaperone
- Children being asked or required to undress without a clear medical reason
- Excessive or unnecessary comments about nudity, puberty, or sexuality
- Examinations that felt different from care provided by other doctors
- Anxiety, fear, shame, or confusion connected to appointments, particularly appointments where a parent or guardian was asked to leave the exam room
- Inappropriate invitations, attention, gifts, or attempts to create a special relationship
- Parents or guardians being pushed out of the room or discouraged from asking questions
Not every survivor recognizes abuse immediately. Many people only understand what happened years later, especially when the misconduct occurred during childhood and was presented as medical care.
Doctor sexual abuse cases often follow a pattern
PCVA has significant experience representing survivors of sexual abuse and misconduct by medical professionals, including cases where doctors used their position of trust to gain access to vulnerable patients and sexually abuse and exploit them.
The allegations involving Dr. Wilmington appear to follow a pattern our attorneys have seen before: a respected medical provider, trusted by children and parents, is accused of using that trust to create opportunities to sexually abuse the child. PCVA Law represented dozens of former patients of Dr. Reginald Archibald and Dr. Darius Paduch, and currently represents more than one hundred survivors who allege they were abused by Dr. Mark Mulholland in Eastern Washington. Our team understands how these cases often expand as survivors, parents, staff, and witnesses begin connecting the dots and begin to understand how the doctor used medical care as a guise for abusing them.
In cases involving medical professionals, the question is not only what the doctor did. The question is also what hospitals, clinics, medical groups, supervisors, chaperones, nurses, administrators, and other institutions knew or should have known about the doctor – and what steps they took, if any, to prevent the doctor from abusing their patients.
You may have a claim even if Dr. Wilmington is deceased
Some former patients assume there is no case because Dr. Wilmington has died. That is not true.
Civil claims may still be available against institutions that employed, credentialed, supervised, protected, ignored complaints about, or otherwise enabled a dangerous doctor. In this case, potential claims may involve Kaiser Permanente and others who failed to take steps to prevent Dr. Wilmington from sexually abusing their patients.
PCVA Law is investigating:
- Whether additional complaints or concerns were reported before the criminal investigation
- Whether Kaiser Permanente or others ignored complaints or red flags that Dr. Wilmington was sexually abusing their patients
- Whether Dr. Wilmington was allowed to continue treating children despite warning signs he was abusing them
- Whether policies and procedures regarding chaperones, training, supervision, or reporting suspected abuse were in place, and if so, whether those policies and procedures were violated
- Whether other medical professionals witnessed inappropriate conduct
- Whether Dr. Wilmington’s patients were properly warned after concerns became known
What to do if you were a patient of Dr. Wilmington
If you or your child were treated by Dr. Wilmington, please contact us to learn your legal options. You do not need to know whether you have a perfect legal case before contacting us. A conversation with an attorney can help you understand whether what happened may be legally significant such that you have a legal claim for what you or a loved one endured.
In anticipation of contacting us, it may be helpful to write down anything you remember about your visits with Dr. Wilmington, including:
- Approximate years of treatment
- The clinic or medical office where appointments occurred
- Whether a parent, nurse, assistant, or chaperone was present
- Whether you were asked to undress
- What type of examination occurred
- Whether anything felt unnecessary, confusing, or sexualized
- Whether you or a parent reported concerns
- Whether anyone at Kaiser Permanente or another facility responded
- Whether you received a letter, phone call, or notice after the investigation became public
You may also want to preserve records, letters, appointment history, MyChart messages, emails, text messages, photographs, calendars, or notes that could help establish when and where treatment occurred.
Talk to attorneys investigating Dr. Wilmington and Kaiser Permanente
PCVA Law is actively speaking with former patients, parents, guardians, witnesses, and others connected to Dr. Wilmington. We are NOT an attorney referral service. We are a Washington-based law firm with offices in Seattle and Tacoma. Our lawyers have represented survivors of sexual abuse for more than 25 years.
You may have a claim if:
- You were abused or touched inappropriately by Dr. Wilmington
- You were subjected to unnecessary nudity or inappropriate examinations
- You were subjected to inappropriate comments by Dr. Wilmington
- You were photographed by Dr. Wilmington
- Your child was abused by Dr. Wilmington
- You reported concerns to Kaiser Permanente or another institution
- You reported concerns to Kaiser Permanente or another institution
Please contact PCVA Law for a free, confidential consultation. There is no fee for our services unless you hire us and we recover financial compensation for you.
Dr. Wilmington In The News
Frequently Asked Questions for Former Dr. Wilmington Patients and Families
Was Dr. Michael Wilmington under investigation?
Yes. Vancouver Police reported that Dr. Michael R. Wilmington was associated with Chad Hartley, that Dr. Wilmington allegedly hosted naked sleepovers with young children at his La Center residence, that a search warrant was served at Dr. Wilmington’s home, and that a felony warrant for Child Molestation I was issued before Dr. Wilmington was found deceased.
Who was Chad Hartley?
Chad Hartley was identified by Vancouver Police during an investigation that began with a cyber tip involving child pornography. Police reported that Hartley was booked on charges including dealing in child pornography, possession of child pornography, and Child Molestation I.
Were there additional suspects?
Yes. Local reports state that William J. Sneiderwine was arrested in connection with the investigation and initially charged with conspiracy to commit child molestation and tampering with physical evidence. Clark County Today also reported that Anna May Hartley was subsequently arrested and booked for Child Molestation I and Trafficking I.
KATU later reported that Sneiderwine faced additional charges involving depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Can I bring a claim against Kaiser Permanente and others if Dr. Wilmington is dead?
Yes. Even if Dr. Wilmington is dead, you can still bring a civil claim against Kaiser Permanente and other institutions who failed to protect patients from him. PCVA Law represents a number of Dr. Wilmington’s former patients who are pursuing such claims against Kaiser Permanente based on their allegations that Kaiser knew or should have known that Dr. Wilmington posed a danger to them and failed to protect them.
What if the abuse happened years ago?
You should still speak with an attorney to learn your legal options. Claims involving childhood sexual abuse often have special rules that allow survivors to bring claims as adults, even well into adulthood. The deadline can depend on a variety of facts, including the survivor’s age, when they began to understand how they were impacted by the abuse, and when they began to understand who may be responsible for the abuse, including who may be responsible for allowing it to happen. Claims involving childhood sexual abuse may have special time-limit rules, and the deadline can depend on the facts, the survivor’s age, when the abuse was understood, and who may be responsible.
What if I am not sure whether what happened was abuse?
That is common in doctor abuse cases. Many survivors were children at the time and were told the conduct was part of medical care or believed it was part of medical care. An attorney can help evaluate whether the exam was medically necessary, including through the use of expert witnesses.
What if I reported concerns to Kaiser or another medical provider?
That may be very important. Reports from parents, patients, staff, nurses, chaperones, or other providers can help establish whether an institution had notice of possible misconduct and failed to act.
Do I have to talk to police before calling a lawyer?
No. You can speak with a civil attorney even if you have not contacted law enforcement. If you have information about possible criminal conduct, you may also choose to contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.