Three former leaders in surgical services at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, have filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging a pattern of patient safety violations within the hospital's neurosurgery department, including claims of surgeons falling asleep during procedures and patients being left unattended under anesthesia. The lawsuit also alleges that hospital administrators retaliated against employees who reported these incidents.
The 18-page complaint, filed in Winnebago County Circuit Court, accuses the medical center of ignoring repeated patient-safety concerns and targeting staff who raised them. The plaintiffs, Sofia Gudino, Tina Peppers, and Cindamon Proffitt, formerly held leadership positions responsible for operating-room safety, regulatory compliance, and surgical operations.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs became aware of "repeated and dangerous safety violations" involving neurosurgery cases starting in late 2023. One of the most serious allegations states that on Feb. 3, 2025, two neurosurgeons allegedly left a patient under anesthesia on an operating room table for about an hour. A similar incident on April 17, 2025, reportedly saw a neurosurgeon leave a patient under anesthesia for approximately 37 minutes to attend a meeting, while another neurosurgeon also participated, leaving the patient unattended for a significant duration.
The lawsuit claims these incidents led to prolonged anesthesia exposure and fraudulent billing practices, as patients are charged for operating room time. "The patients were fraudulently and unethically overcharged for OR time, as patients are charged by the minute during OR procedures," the complaint states.
Another allegation details an incident on Oct. 12, 2023, where a neurosurgeon was reportedly observed falling asleep during a procedure. The lawsuit claims Peppers had warned the hospital's chief medical officer prior to the operation about the risks, given the surgeon's late hours and prior surgeries, but the procedure was allowed to proceed. "Despite repeated reports, no investigations were initiated, no corrective actions taken, and the unsafe behavior continued," the lawsuit states.
Additional claims in the complaint include failures in surgical counts, breaches of sterile technique, hostile behavior from neurosurgeons, use of unapproved medical equipment, and intimidation of nurses who questioned practices. The plaintiffs assert they repeatedly reported concerns through various internal channels, including incident reports, an integrity line, human resources, and to senior executives. These reports allegedly included concerns about surgeons refusing proper timeouts, directing staff to falsify checklists, and engaging in inappropriate conduct.
Rather than addressing the reported issues, the plaintiffs allege they faced repercussions. They claim they were warned to stop filing reports, excluded from meetings, stripped of authority, and assigned additional neurosurgery-related duties. The lawsuit characterizes their work environment as having become intolerably hostile after they reported patient-safety concerns, leading them to resign in 2025 and alleging constructive discharge. The complaint also states that hospital leaders prioritized retaining surgeons over addressing complaints, with one regional CEO reportedly telling a plaintiff, "We cannot afford to lose any surgeon."
The lawsuit does not involve claims brought by patients but instead alleges violations of the Illinois Whistleblower Act, seeking damages for retaliation. OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by Fox News Digital. The claims within the lawsuit have not yet been proven in court.