Betrayal of Trust: 51 Women Allege Decades of Abuse by OB/GYN, Enabled by Hospital

SEATTLE, WA – March 25, 2026 – The number of women taking legal action against obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Mark Mulholland and the Providence-Kadlec health system has swelled to fifty-one, according to new filings in an expanding lawsuit. The litigation, filed in King County Superior Court, paints a disturbing picture of alleged widespread doctor-patient sexual abuse, unnecessary and invasive surgeries, and a healthcare institution that purportedly ignored a torrent of complaints for over two decades.

The women, represented by attorneys Tamara Holder of Tamara Holder Law and Elizabeth Hanley of Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, claim that Dr. Mulholland engaged in a pattern of abuse throughout his long career at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Washington. The allegations are severe, ranging from forced C-sections and non-consensual pelvic exams to sexual assault during appointments.

A System of Ignored Warnings

Central to the plaintiffs' case is the accusation of profound institutional failure. The lawsuits allege that Providence-Kadlec, which employed Dr. Mulholland from 1999 until his retirement in June 2023, repeatedly received and dismissed complaints from both patients and staff. This alleged inaction allowed the abuse to continue unchecked for years, creating what the legal team describes as a catastrophic breakdown in patient safety.

Court documents and research reveal specific instances where warnings were allegedly minimized or rationalized. In one reported incident from 2005, a patient and former employee complained to a manager about Dr. Mulholland's sexually inappropriate comments, only to be told, "That is just Mulholland being Mulholland." In another case from 2017, a patient reported an allegedly gloveless and sexually inappropriate vaginal examination to a nurse, but no apparent action was taken. Complaints from 2020 detailed in filings include an instance where the doctor allegedly cornered a patient, blocking her from leaving an exam room until she threatened to call 911.

These accounts form the backbone of the claim that the hospital cultivated an environment where a physician's behavior was normalized, despite the clear and repeated distress signals from patients. The legal team argues this represents a systemic betrayal of the trust that patients place in healthcare providers and the institutions that employ them.

The Doctor's License and Official Sanctions

Dr. Mulholland's career came to an official halt long after the alleged pattern of misconduct began. In October 2023, as the first lawsuits emerged, the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) took emergency action, restricting him from treating any female patients. By March 2024, the commission had moved to indefinitely suspend his medical license entirely.

In its statement of charges, the WMC declared that Dr. Mulholland's conduct constituted unprofessionalism and that he posed a "clear and immediate danger" to the public. This decisive regulatory action, which followed investigations into multiple patient complaints of misconduct, lends significant weight to the allegations now being pursued in civil court. Dr. Mulholland had retired in June 2023, shortly after the initial lawsuit was filed, ending a tenure at Kadlec that spanned more than two decades.

A Fight for Accountability and a Broader Crisis

The growing number of plaintiffs underscores the gravity and scale of the alleged harm. Attorney Elizabeth Hanley stated, "Each new claim reinforces the need for a thorough review of Dr. Mulholland's actions and Providence-Kadlec's institutional responses. Our focus is on ensuring every voice is heard and that systemic accountability is pursued."

For co-counsel Tamara Holder, a trial attorney specializing in institutional abuse, the case is a stark example of a much larger, often hidden, crisis in women's healthcare. She points to global data to contextualize the alleged events in Washington.

"The World Health Organization reports that up to 59 percent of women experience obstetric or gynecologic abuse, including non-consented care, verbal mistreatment, and even physical abuse," Holder added. "These statistics are a call to action: healthcare institutions must be held accountable when they fail to protect women and mothers."

This broader phenomenon, sometimes termed "obstetric violence," includes a range of disrespectful and abusive treatments that violate a woman's rights and bodily autonomy. According to WHO-supported research, this mistreatment is pervasive globally and can deter women from seeking essential medical care. The lawsuit against Dr. Mulholland and Providence-Kadlec brings this international issue into sharp focus at a local level, highlighting the devastating impact when systems designed to heal are accused of facilitating harm.

As the litigation proceeds, the legal team continues to seek information. They have urged anyone who has knowledge about Dr. Mark Mulholland or the institutions where he worked to contact them through a dedicated website, www.drmarkmulhollandabuse.com, suggesting that the full scope of this case may still be unfolding.