Three former leaders in surgical services at a hospital in Illinois have filed a whistleblower lawsuit. They claim a neurosurgeon fell asleep during a procedure, leaving patients on surgical tables for long periods without a doctor present. The lawsuit also alleges the hospital retaliated against employees who reported these incidents.
The 18-page lawsuit, submitted in Winnebago County Circuit Court, accuses OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford of ignoring continuous complaints about patient safety within the neurosurgery department. Instead, it alleges, the hospital focused on penalizing those who reported these issues.
Details of the Allegations
The plaintiffs, Sofia Gudino, Tina Peppers, and Cindamon Proffitt, had roles overseeing operating-room safety and compliance. The lawsuit claims that from late 2023, they noticed ongoing safety violations in neurosurgery. One major allegation states that on February 3, 2025, two neurosurgeons left a patient under anesthesia for about an hour without surgeon supervision.
On another occasion, April 17, 2025, a neurosurgeon left a patient alone under anesthesia for 37 minutes to attend a meeting. Both incidents allegedly resulted in increased anesthesia exposure and fraudulent billing practices as patients are charged by the minute during surgeries.
Specific Incidents in Question
The lawsuit suggests that on October 12, 2023, a neurosurgeon was seen falling asleep against the microscope during surgery. Despite warnings from Peppers to the chief medical officer about the risks due to the surgeon’s fatigue, the procedure continued.
The complaint also notes repeated failures in surgical protocol, such as incomplete surgical counts and using unapproved medical equipment. It also highlights alleged hostile behavior from neurosurgeons towards staff and claims of intimidation against nurses raising safety questions.
Retaliation Against Whistleblowers
The complainants state they frequently raised these concerns through various internal channels, including Midas incident reports and OSF’s Integrity Line. However, instead of action being taken, they faced reprimands for filing reports, were ostracized, and given more neurosurgery-related duties.
According to the lawsuit, the hostile work situation forced the plaintiffs to resign in 2025. They claim this amounts to constructive discharge. The lawsuit accuses the hospital of breaching the Illinois Whistleblower Act by retaliating against those reporting what they saw as threats to patient safety.
The case does not include any direct patient claims but focuses on employee allegations. OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center has not commented on the lawsuit yet. The claims have not been proven in court, and the hospital will have a chance to respond.