Traci Tamiko Eto claims she spent over eighteen months raising concerns about Mayo Clinic’s AI initiatives undermining patient privacy and safety, leading to a lawsuit against the Minnesota-based health system.
Key developments from Eto’s retaliation case include:
—Eto assumed the role of director of research operations in December, overseeing compliance with federal AI regulations and managing a team of 36 staff members.
—The lawsuit alleges Eto identified critical AI safety failures, such as bypassing institutional review boards for digital assistant testing, improper handling of patient data during anonymization, and unapproved AI-assisted cardiac surgeries without proper oversight.
—Despite Eto’s repeated warnings, Mayo leadership allegedly prioritized expediency over compliance. She was demoted in July 2025, placed on medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act—a request first denied before being approved after legal intervention. She received only one internal interview out of fifteen applications before being terminated on December 1, 2025.
—Eto asserts Mayo suppressed her contributions, including excluding her name from a patent application for an AI tool she helped design and maintaining an internal “non-rehire” file against her.
—Mayo denies wrongdoing, stating its AI practices adhere to legal standards. A representative emphasized commitments to “privacy, security, transparency, and compliance” in an email to MedCity News, while avoiding discussion of the ongoing litigation.
—The lawsuit, filed July 6 in Minnesota federal court, cites violations of the False Claims Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act. Eto seeks back and front pay, benefits, and punitive damages via jury trial.
Photo: boonchai wedmakawand, Getty Images
