Three former surgical-services leaders have filed a whistleblower lawsuit against OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, alleging systemic patient-safety failures and retaliation against staff who reported concerns. According to the 18-page complaint filed in Winnebago County Circuit Court, hospital administrators ignored reports of neurosurgeons falling asleep during procedures and leaving anesthetized patients unattended for extended periods.
What are the primary allegations in the lawsuit?
The plaintiffs—Sofia Gudino, Tina Peppers, and Cindamon Proffitt—allege that the hospital’s neurosurgery department operated under unsafe conditions, according to the court filing. The lawsuit claims that on February 3, 2025, two neurosurgeons left a patient under anesthesia for approximately one hour without a surgeon present. A similar incident allegedly occurred on April 17, 2025, involving a 37-minute period where a patient remained anesthetized while surgeons attended a meeting. Furthermore, the complaint cites an October 2023 incident where a neurosurgeon was observed by staff falling asleep against a surgical microscope.
The lawsuit alleges that patients were billed by the minute for operating room time during periods where no surgical oversight was present, potentially leading to fraudulent billing practices.
How did hospital management respond to safety reports?
The plaintiffs claim that reporting safety violations resulted in professional retaliation rather than corrective action. According to the lawsuit, the three leaders utilized official channels—including Midas incident reports and the hospital’s Integrity Line—to flag issues such as skipped surgical checklists and breaches of sterile technique. Instead of addressing these reports, the complaint alleges that hospital leadership, including Regional CEO August J. Querciagrossa, pressured staff to remain silent to ensure surgeon retention. The filing states that Querciagrossa told one plaintiff, “We cannot afford to lose any surgeon,” when concerns were raised.
What are the long-term industry trends regarding healthcare whistleblowing?
This case reflects a broader trend of healthcare professionals utilizing the Illinois Whistleblower Act to challenge internal safety cultures. While this lawsuit focuses on surgical negligence, it mirrors recent national patterns where staff report “constructive discharge”—resigning because the work environment became intolerably hostile after reporting safety risks. Unlike malpractice suits brought by patients, these whistleblower actions focus on the institutional failure to maintain regulatory compliance. OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center has declined to comment on the allegations, which have not yet been proven in court.
If you are a healthcare worker concerned about patient safety, document all internal reports through official compliance portals and save copies of your communications outside of the hospital’s private network to protect your professional record.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Have the patients involved sued the hospital? No. The current lawsuit is brought by three former employees under the Illinois Whistleblower Act, not by the patients themselves.
- What is the status of the legal proceedings? The allegations were filed in Winnebago County Circuit Court; OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center has not yet provided a formal response in court.
- What happens if the hospital is found liable? The plaintiffs are seeking damages for retaliation and the loss of their positions, which they characterize as constructive discharge.
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