The Washington State Medical Board failed to promptly alert the public after filing charges against Mark Mulholland for repeated accusations of sexual misconduct.
This delay is significant because it allowed a physician facing serious allegations to continue practicing medicine while investigations were ongoing. The gap between the filing of charges and the public announcement creates a window of risk for patients who rely on regulatory boards for safety disclosures.
According to reports from ProPublica and KUOW, the board waited six weeks [1] to announce that it had filed charges against Mulholland. Washington state law requires the board to alert the public when doctors are accused of misconduct, yet the timeline in this case suggests a failure to meet that standard of urgency.
In the case of Mark Mulholland, who was repeatedly accused of sexual misconduct, the board waited six weeks [1] to announce that it had filed charges, a ProPublica reporter said.
The lack of timely disclosure meant Mulholland remained in practice during the period the board was processing the charges. This systemic delay highlights a disconnect between the legal requirements for public notification and the actual administrative execution by the medical board.
While the board is tasked with protecting public health and safety, the timeline in the Mulholland case reveals a vulnerability in the oversight process. The delay of six weeks [1] effectively neutralized the intended purpose of the public alert system, which is to prevent further harm by informing patients of pending disciplinary actions.
“The board waited six weeks to announce that it had filed charges.”
This case underscores a critical failure in the regulatory safety net designed to protect patients from medical practitioners. When a state medical board delays the disclosure of misconduct charges, it prioritizes administrative timelines over immediate public safety, potentially leaving patients unaware of risks until after further incidents occur.
