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PFAU COCHRAN VERTETIS AMALA

Wave of Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Filed Against Providence and Kadlec Regional Medical Center for Patient Abuse

Aug 12, 2025 | Firm News, News, Sexual Abuse

Dr. Mark Mulholland accused of serially sexually abusing his patients in five new lawsuits and numerous formal complaints to state Department of Health.

“This could be one of the biggest known cases of sexual abuse in a medical setting in Washington State history.”

RICHLAND, WASHINGTON – Attorneys at Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC (“PCVA”) today filed five new sexual abuse lawsuits against Providence Health & Services, Kadlec Regional Medical Center, and Kadlec Clinic – Associated Physicians for Women on behalf of former patients of Dr. Mark Mulholland  alleging that the medical centers dismissed prior complaints of the doctor and failed to take action to protect patients from the alleged sexual abuse. In addition, several more patients submitted formal complaints to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), urging the state to revoke Dr. Mulholland’s medical license.

The lawsuits are the latest in a disturbing national trend of medical institutions failing to protect patients from sexual abuse, following extensive reporting on abusive doctors including Larry Nasser, George Tyndall, Robert Hadden, Darius Paduch, and James Heaps.

As of August 12th, 7 lawsuits and numerous complaints to the DOH have been filed – and more survivors continue to come forward with disturbingly similar stories of sexual abuse during routine OBGYN visits, pre-natal and post-natal appointments, and surgical procedures related to pregnancy loss. The wave of additional lawsuits allege that the medical centers failed to report Dr. Mulholland to the appropriate authorities – despite receiving numerous complaints dating back to at least 2005.

“It’s becoming clear that Dr. Mulholland was serially abusing his patients – and Kadlec knew about it for years. Based on the dozens of women we have spoken to in just the last week, this could be one of the biggest known cases of sexual abuse in a medical setting in Washington State history,” said Mallory Allen, an attorney for the victims and partner at PCVA Law. “We’ve heard from patients and former staff that Kadlec was aware of Dr. Mulholland’s disgusting behavior as far back as 2005, but instead of upholding their legal and ethical obligations to take action to protect patients from sexual abuse – these medical institutions turned a blind eye and enabled it. We anticipate there are many more survivors of Dr. Mulholland’s abuse, and encourage anyone who may have been abused to come forward and seek the justice they deserve.”

As alleged in the new filings:  

  • In 2005: a former employee (who was also a patient) reported sexually inappropriate comments made by Dr. Mulholland to the office manager at Kadlec. She was told “that is just Mulholland being Mulholland.”
  • In 2017: A patient complained to a nurse at Kadlec about Dr. Mulholland’s sexually inappropriate vaginal examination. The nurse was present for the exam — as Dr. Mulholland examined the patient’s vagina without gloves on.
  • In 2020: a patient called the front desk of the Kadlec Clinic to report Dr. Mulholland for badgering her 16 year-old daughter about her sex life.
  • In 2020: a patient called the front desk of the Kadlec Clinic to report Dr. Mulholland for physically blocking her from exiting the examination room insisting on performing a pelvic exam. Dr. Mulholland let the patient go only after she threatened to call 911.
  • In 2023: a patient called the phone line of the Kadlec Clinic as well as her primary care physician, to report a violent examination from Dr. Mulholland that left her rectum and vagina bleeding. 
Mark Mulholland, OB-GYN from Richland, WA. Photo used with permission.

Dr. Mark Mulholland, OB-GYN

Dr. Mark Mulholland in the News