Former Mayo Clinic AI compliance lead sues over alleged safety violations

A former research director at Mayo Clinic has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the hospital system cut corners on artificial intelligence safety protocols and retaliated against her for raising concerns about patient privacy and care.

Traci Tamiko Eto, who served as Mayo's AI compliance lead, claims in the civil action filed this week that staff bypassed critical review processes in their rush to deploy AI tools, according to reporting first published by MPR News. The lawsuit alleges Mayo prioritized competitive advantage over regulatory compliance and patient safety.

The allegations

Eto joined Mayo Clinic in 2023 as Director of Research Operations with responsibility for overseeing AI compliance. According to the lawsuit, she began flagging issues in early 2024 when she discovered patient data de-identification processes had not received proper internal review.

The complaint alleges her supervisor acknowledged the concerns but said revisiting the processes would slow research projects and harm Mayo's competitive position.

Over the following year, Eto reported multiple instances of bypassed safety reviews, the lawsuit states. In one case, she alleges a colleague authorized a high-risk cardiac surgery device without Institutional Review Board approval. In another, she raised concerns about MAYA, Mayo's digital assistant tool, claiming the team deleted unfavorable results and used unauthorized software that compromised data security. Ten separate whistleblower reports allegedly documented similar issues, including a 67 percent error rate that investigators attempted to disguise.

Retaliation claims

After filing a formal report with Mayo's legal department in early 2025, Eto claims she was excluded from executive meetings and warned that leadership had issued "marching orders" to remove her. In March 2025, she was allegedly told she was a "poor cultural fit" and given the choice to resign or face career-damaging consequences.

Eto remained at Mayo but was placed on a performance improvement plan, demoted, and removed from AI projects she had been managing, according to the lawsuit. She subsequently took medical leave for depression. Halfway through that leave, in September 2024, Mayo eliminated her position.

Artur Davis, Eto's attorney with HKM Employment Attorneys, told MPR News the case raises fundamental questions about AI governance in healthcare settings that handle sensitive patient data.

Mayo's response

Mayo Clinic communications director Andrea Kalmanovitz said the organization is committed to responsible AI development and that "privacy, security, transparency and compliance are embedded in its processes." The hospital system declined to comment on the pending litigation but stated its research and clinical innovation comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Mayo has made AI integration a strategic priority in recent years, launching Mayo Clinic Platform in 2019 to drive healthcare innovation through AI and digital products. Last month, the organization announced a partnership with Microsoft to develop an advanced healthcare-focused AI model.

Why it matters

The lawsuit arrives as healthcare systems nationwide accelerate AI adoption with limited regulatory oversight. Mayo Clinic's prominence as a research leader means its AI practices could influence industry standards. The case highlights tensions between innovation speed and safety protocols in medical settings where errors can directly impact patient outcomes. If Eto's allegations prove accurate, they suggest even elite institutions may struggle to balance competitive pressure with responsible AI governance.

Eto is seeking a jury trial and requesting back pay, front pay, lost benefits, and litigation costs. Mayo Clinic has 21 days to respond to the filing.

Details of the lawsuit were first reported by MPR News reporter Molly Castle Work.