Washington Medical Board Faces Scrutiny After Allowing OB-GYN Accused of Serial Misconduct to Keep Practicing

Dr. Mark Mulholland, an OB-GYN formerly based at the Kadlec Clinic in Richland, Washington, continued to see patients for years despite a mounting pile of sexual misconduct allegations. Multiple women have reported that the physician used sexually explicit language and performed invasive, non-medical pelvic exams during routine appointments. Internal records indicate that the Washington Medical Commission received at least four formal complaints against the doctor starting in 2022. Furthermore, three of his own medical colleagues provided testimony regarding his inappropriate behavior, including reports of him making derogatory comments about patients and physically handling them without consent.

Despite the state’s legal authority to issue emergency license suspensions when a physician poses an immediate threat to public safety, regulators allowed Mulholland to maintain his practice throughout the investigation. It was not until April 2025 that the commission filed formal charges of unprofessional conduct, yet even then, the doctor was permitted to continue seeing patients for several more weeks. Currently, at least 84 lawsuits have been filed against Mulholland and his former employer, Providence health system, as the state faces renewed criticism over its slow disciplinary response to allegations of medical abuse. Mulholland has denied all accusations of wrongdoing through his legal counsel, and the ongoing litigation continues to highlight systemic failures in protecting patient welfare.