Law firm seeks patients of Tri-Cities doctor accused of unprofessional conduct

A Kennewick law firm is gathering information from patients of a Richland doctor accused by the state of unprofessional conduct for alleged inappropriate comments and behavior toward women at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic.

At this point, Tamaki Law has not filed a lawsuit against Dr. Mark Mulholland but sent out a news release saying it is investigating the claims and is encouraging anyone with information about the allegations to come forward.

Mulholland, 58, is not currently practicing at Kadlec Regional Medical Center’s Associated Physicians for Women in Richland, but has been a member of the Kadlec medical staff since late 1999, the year he was licensed to practice medicine in Washington state.

Attorney Jeff Kreutz with Tamaki Law said patients have repeatedly told the law firm that their complaints to Kadlec or the Washington state Department of Health have been disregarded.

The state Department of Health on April 29 charged Mulholland with unprofessional conduct, alleging he lacked appropriate boundaries with patients. Any response from Mulholland to the state has not yet been made public.

“Respondent has made inappropriate comments about patients’ physical appearances, including body shaming patients who were overweight and making implied sexual comments about patients’ vaginas,” it said in a Washington Medical Commission statement of charges.

He is accused of pulling a patient’s pants down without asking for permission during a bedside ultrasound and not draping the patient, according to the statement of charges.

He also is accused of making inappropriate comments toward female staff, such as commenting on their weight, asking them to show him their breasts or inquiring about whether they planned to cheat on their husbands.

“Respondent’s behaviors toward patients and staff have often been rationalized, normalized and minimized, resulting in patient and staff complaints being dismissed and not taken seriously,” alleges the statement of charges.

Kadlec said it could not comment on allegations that are part of an ongoing Washington state Department of Health investigation, other than to say it was fully cooperating with the state in the matter.

Mulholland could not be reached for comment. Information on who his attorney is was not available.

A letter of introduction when he was nominated to serve as a member of the Kadlec medical staff’s Executive Committee said Mulholland initially was appointed to the committee in 2000. The letter indicated that the position provides “leadership and guidance for the medical staff and our interface with hospital leadership.”

It is not clear how long he served on the committee after the nomination, but Kadlec said he is not currently a member of the committee.

The letter also said he had served as chairman of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.

This story was originally published July 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM.