Three former surgical-services leaders at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, have filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the hospital. The lawsuit alleges that neurosurgeons left patients under anesthesia without supervision and that hospital administrators retaliated against employees who reported the incidents.

Allegations of Patient-Safety Violations

The lawsuit claims that the plaintiffs became aware of repeated and dangerous safety violations involving neurosurgery cases in late 2023. Among the most serious allegations, the complaint claims that on February 3, 2025, two neurosurgeons left a patient under anesthesia for approximately one hour. On April 17, 2025, a neurosurgeon left another patient under anesthesia for approximately 37 minutes to attend a meeting.

The lawsuit also alleges that on October 12, 2023, a neurosurgeon was observed falling asleep during a procedure. The plaintiffs claim that they repeatedly reported concerns through incident reports, the hospital’s Integrity Line, human resources personnel, quality and safety officials, and senior executives.

Retaliation Against Employees

The complaint alleges that hospital administrators warned the plaintiffs to stop filing reports, excluded them from meetings, stripped them of authority, and assigned them additional neurosurgery-related duties. The plaintiffs claim that they were subjected to verbal hostility, intimidation, and humiliation and that supportive employees were warned to stay silent.

The lawsuit seeks damages for retaliation against employees who reported patient-safety concerns. The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court, and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center has declined to comment on the matter.

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