Whistleblower lawsuit says neurosurgeons left patients anesthetized and safety concerns ignored

Three erstwhile surgical-services leaders astatine an Illinois infirmary allege successful a whistleblower suit that a neurosurgeon fell dormant during surgery, patients were near anesthetized connected operating country tables without surgeons contiguous and infirmary administrators retaliated against employees who reported the incidents.

The 18-page lawsuit, filed successful Winnebago County Circuit Court, accuses OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center successful Rockford, Illinois, of ignoring repeated patient-safety complaints involving the hospital's neurosurgery work enactment and alternatively targeting employees who raised concerns.

According to the complaint, Sofia Gudino, Tina Peppers and Cindamon Proffitt held enactment positions liable for operating-room safety, regulatory compliance and surgical operations.

The suit alleges that opening successful precocious 2023, the plaintiffs became alert of "repeated and unsafe information violations" involving neurosurgery cases. Among the astir superior allegations, the ailment claims that connected Feb. 3, 2025, 2 neurosurgeons near a diligent nether anesthesia connected an operating country array for astir 1 hour.

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Medical unit enactment successful an operating room. A whistleblower suit filed against OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center alleges patient-safety violations wrong the hospital's neurosurgery work line. (Getty Images)

It further alleges that connected April 17, 2025, a neurosurgeon near different diligent nether anesthesia for astir 37 minutes to be a gathering portion different neurosurgeon besides participated, leaving "the diligent nether anesthesia with nary surgeon contiguous for a important magnitude of time."

Gudino, Peppers and Proffitt allege those incidents resulted successful prolonged anesthesia vulnerability and improper billing practices.

According to the complaint, "The patients were fraudulently and unethically overcharged for OR time, arsenic patients are charged by the infinitesimal during OR procedures."

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OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center successful Rockford, Illinois. Three erstwhile surgical-services leaders filed a whistleblower suit alleging retaliation aft reporting patient-safety concerns. (Google Maps)

The suit besides alleges that connected Oct. 12, 2023, a neurosurgeon "was observed falling dormant against the surgical microscope by OR staff" during a procedure. According to the complaint, Peppers warned the hospital's main aesculapian serviceman earlier the cognition that proceeding would beryllium unsafe due to the fact that the surgeon had worked precocious the erstwhile nighttime and had already completed a afloat time of surgeries. Nevertheless, the ailment alleges, the country was allowed to proceed.

"Despite repeated reports, nary investigations were initiated, nary corrective actions taken, and the unsafe behaviour continued," the suit states.

The ailment besides alleges failures to implicit surgical counts, breaches of sterile technique, hostile and erratic behaviour by neurosurgeons, usage of unapproved aesculapian instrumentality and intimidation of nurses who questioned unsafe practices.

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Surgical instruments are displayed connected a tray successful an operating room. Former surgical-services leaders allege successful a suit that repeated patient-safety concerns were ignored by infirmary administrators. (Getty Images)

Gudino, Peppers and Proffitt assertion they repeatedly reported concerns done Midas incidental reports, OSF's Integrity Line, quality resources personnel, prime and information officials and elder executives.

The ailment alleges the reports included concerns that surgeons refused due timeouts and debriefings, directed unit to skip oregon falsify checklists and engaged successful inappropriate behaviour toward operating-room staff.

Rather than addressing the concerns, the plaintiffs allege they were warned to halt filing reports, excluded from meetings, stripped of authorization and assigned further neurosurgery-related duties.

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The suit claims they were subjected to verbal hostility, intimidation and humiliation and that supportive employees "were warned to enactment silent."

The ailment further alleges infirmary leaders were much acrophobic astir retaining surgeons than addressing complaints. According to the filing, Regional CEO August J. Querciagrossa told 1 plaintiff, "We cannot spend to suffer immoderate surgeon."

All 3 plaintiffs yet resigned successful 2025. The suit alleges their departures amounted to constructive discharge due to the fact that the enactment situation had go intolerably hostile aft they reported patient-safety concerns.

The lawsuit does not impact claims brought by patients. Instead, it alleges violations of the Illinois Whistleblower Act and seeks damages for retaliation against employees who reported what they believed were threats to diligent safety.

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OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center declined to remark connected the substance erstwhile reached by Fox News Digital.

The allegations successful the suit person not been proven successful court, and OSF volition person an accidental to respond to the claims.