Whistleblower Lawsuit Alleges Serious Violations at Illinois Hospital
Three former surgical directors from an Illinois hospital have filed a whistleblower lawsuit, claiming, among other things, that neurosurgeons fell asleep during procedures and that patients were left anesthetized on operating tables without supervision. They also allege retaliation from hospital administrators against employees who reported these issues.
This 18-page lawsuit, lodged in Winnebago County Circuit Court, targets OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois. It claims the hospital ignored ongoing concerns about patient safety within its neurosurgical department, instead sidelining the whistleblowers.
The plaintiffs, Sophia Gudino, Tina Peppers, and Cindermon Proffitt, were responsible for operating room safety and surgical compliance. The lawsuit asserts that the plaintiffs identified “repeated and dangerous safety violations” during neurosurgical operations starting in late 2023. A striking allegation in the complaint details an incident on February 3, 2025, where two neurosurgeons reportedly left a patient anesthetized on the table for nearly an hour.
Another significant claim involves a neurosurgeon who allegedly attended a conference on April 17, 2025, leaving another patient under anesthesia for about 37 minutes during their absence.
According to the lawsuit, these occurrences led not only to extended anesthesia exposure but also to questionable billing practices, suggesting that patients were improperly charged by the minute for their time in surgery.
The complaint also reports an incident from October 12, 2023, where a neurosurgeon was seen dozing off during a procedure, despite a warning from Peppers about the surgeon’s fatigue. The surgery went ahead regardless.
Despite numerous complaints, the document asserts that no investigation occurred, and the unsafe practices persisted. Other alleged issues include incomplete surgical counts, violations of aseptic procedures, erratic interactions from the neurosurgeon, and attempts to intimidate nurses who questioned these unsafe practices.
Gudino, Peppers, and Proffitt maintain that they reported their concerns through various channels, including Midas Incident Reports and other hospital lines, but were met with resistance. Rather than addressing the issues, the hospital, they claim, retaliated against them by stripping their privileges and increasing their workload.
The complaint describes a climate of intimidation and hostility, mentioning that hospital leaders seemed more invested in hiring new surgeons than resolving existing complaints. One plaintiff was reportedly told by Regional CEO Augusto J. Querciagrossa that the hospital couldn’t afford to lose surgeons.
All three plaintiffs resigned in 2025, alleging that their working conditions had become intolerable, classifying their departures as constructive dismissal. The lawsuit does not involve patient claims; instead, it alleges breaches of the Illinois Whistleblower Act and seeks damages for reported patient safety threats.
OSF St. Anthony Medical Center did not provide comment when approached. As of now, the allegations remain unproven in court, and OSF has the chance to respond to these claims.
