Whistleblower Lawsuit Against Illinois Hospital Unveils Patient-Safety Concerns

Three former leaders in surgical services have filed a lawsuit against OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, claiming patient-safety violations in the hospital’s neurosurgery department. The lawsuit, filed in Winnebago County Circuit Court, accuses the hospital of retaliating against employees who reported these concerns.

Allegations of Unsafe Surgical Practices

According to the complaint, Sofia Gudino, Tina Peppers, and Cindamon Proffitt became aware of significant safety violations beginning in late 2023. The lawsuit details incidents where patients were left under anesthesia without surgeons present. Specifically, on February 3, 2025, two neurosurgeons allegedly left a patient anesthetized for about an hour.

In another instance on April 17, 2025, a neurosurgeon reportedly left a patient under anesthesia for 37 minutes to attend a meeting, with no surgeon present during this time. These actions allegedly resulted in prolonged anesthesia exposure and raised concerns of improper billing.

“The patients were fraudulently and unethically overcharged for OR time, as patients are charged by the minute during OR procedures,” the complaint states.

Neurosurgeon Accused of Falling Asleep

On October 12, 2023, a neurosurgeon was observed falling asleep during a procedure. The lawsuit claims Peppers had warned the chief medical officer that the surgeon was fatigued from previous surgeries, yet the operation proceeded without intervention.

Ignored Reports and Retaliation

The plaintiffs allege that despite repeated reports through various channels, no investigations were conducted and no actions were taken. Complaints included lack of surgical counts, breaches of sterile technique, and use of unapproved equipment. Instead of addressing the issues, the hospital reportedly warned the plaintiffs to stop filing complaints, excluded them from meetings, and stripped them of their authority. This environment allegedly led to verbal hostility and intimidation, culminating in the plaintiffs’ resignation in 2025.

Legal Implications and Response

The lawsuit claims violations of the Illinois Whistleblower Act and seeks damages for retaliation against employees. The case focuses on the hospital’s alleged prioritization of retaining surgeons over addressing patient-safety concerns.

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center declined to comment on the lawsuit, and the allegations have not been proven in court. The hospital will have an opportunity to respond to the claims.