Mayo Clinic Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Retaliation Linked to AI Practices
The Mayo Clinic, a prestigious medical institution based in Rochester, Minnesota, is currently embroiled in a legal battle. Traci Tamiko Eto, a former director of research operations at the clinic, has filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation and wrongful termination after she raised concerns regarding the clinic’s artificial intelligence (AI) practices.
The Allegations
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, is built on several serious allegations. Eto, represented by HKM employment attorneys Artur Davis and Rebecca Rojas, claims that Mayo Clinic violated the retaliation provisions of the False Claims Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Joining Mayo Clinic in December 2023, Eto was assigned the critical role of directing research operations to align with a Biden administration executive order on AI security and privacy safeguards. Her tenure at Mayo Clinic, however, was fraught with challenges, as described in the complaint.
Concerns Over AI Practices
Over an 18-month span, Eto reportedly identified multiple deficiencies within Mayo’s AI Compass program. These included significant gaps in patient privacy and fundamental flaws such as data manipulation designed to obscure adverse outcomes. Furthermore, it was alleged that software was deployed without adequate oversight, raising serious ethical and operational concerns.
In February 2025, Eto submitted an internal report highlighting these issues to the clinic’s legal department. Rather than addressing her concerns, the complaint claims she was subsequently excluded from projects and operational meetings, with her oversight powers retracted. By April 2025, she was placed on a performance improvement plan, allegedly justified on the ambiguous grounds of not being a “culture fit.”
Termination and Legal Action
Following a period of medical leave, Eto’s position was terminated in September 2025 as part of a purported restructuring. Despite applying for 15 internal positions, she only secured one interview, ultimately leading to her official termination on December 1st.
In response, Eto filed a discrimination and retaliation complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on February 22nd, receiving a right to sue on April 17th. The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief, including back pay, prepayments, lost benefits, and compensatory and punitive damages under the ADA and the False Claims Act.
Mayo Clinic’s Response
In a statement to Fierce Healthcare, a Mayo Clinic spokesperson reiterated the institution’s commitment to responsible AI development, emphasizing privacy, security, transparency, and compliance. They maintained that Mayo Clinic’s research and clinical innovations adhere to applicable laws and regulations. The clinic, however, refrained from commenting directly on the pending litigation.
For more detailed information about this ongoing case, readers are encouraged to refer to the source link: Here.
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