Whistleblower Lawsuit Claims Safety Violations at Illinois Hospital

Three former leaders in surgical services at an Illinois hospital have filed a whistleblower lawsuit. They claim that a neurosurgeon slept during surgery and patients were left anesthetized without a surgeon present. They also allege hospital administrators retaliated against employees who reported these issues.

The 18-page lawsuit was submitted to the Winnebago County Circuit Court. It accuses OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, located in Rockford, Illinois, of ignoring ongoing patient-safety concerns in its neurosurgery department. Employees who raised these concerns allegedly faced targeting instead.

According to the lawsuit, Sofia Gudino, Tina Peppers, and Cindamon Proffitt were responsible for ensuring operating-room safety, regulatory compliance, and surgical operations. They allege that by late 2023, they noticed repeated safety violations in neurosurgery.

Specific Allegations

One major claim in the lawsuit details an incident on February 3, 2025. It states that two neurosurgeons left a patient under anesthesia in the operating room for about one hour. Another incident on April 17, 2025, alleges that a neurosurgeon left a patient under anesthesia for 37 minutes to attend a meeting. The lawsuit claims these actions led to prolonged anesthesia exposure and improper billing practices.

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

The lawsuit also recounts an event on October 12, 2023, where a neurosurgeon fell asleep during a procedure. Despite warnings from Peppers about the surgeon’s fatigue, the surgery proceeded without investigation or corrective action.

Additional Concerns

The lawsuit highlights issues like incomplete surgical counts, breaches of sterile techniques, and hostile behavior from neurosurgeons. There were also complaints about using unapproved medical equipment and intimidating nurses who questioned unsafe practices.

Gudino, Peppers, and Proffitt reported these concerns through various channels, including Midas incident reports, OSF’s Integrity Line, and discussions with human resources and senior executives. Instead of action, the plaintiffs say they were warned to stop reporting, excluded from meetings, and faced increased duties related to neurosurgery.

Retaliation and Response

The lawsuit claims the plaintiffs were subjected to hostile work environments, verbal intimidation, and humiliation. Supportive staff were allegedly warned to stay silent. Hospital leaders appeared more concerned with retaining surgeons than addressing the reported issues. Regional CEO August J. Querciagrossa reportedly told a plaintiff, “We cannot afford to lose any surgeon.”

All three plaintiffs resigned in 2025, claiming the working conditions had become intolerable. The lawsuit alleges constructive discharge and violations of the Illinois Whistleblower Act, seeking damages for retaliation.

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center has not commented on the lawsuit, and the allegations remain unproven in court. The hospital will have a chance to respond to these claims.