Traci Tamiko Eto, a former Mayo Clinic AI lead, alleges the health system concealed serious flaws in its AI assistant and retaliated against her after she raised privacy and security concerns. She claims staff working on the assistant MAYA knew it produced incorrect results about 67% of the time and that unfavorable test data were removed. Eto says she was excluded from meetings in early 2025 and pressured to resign; Mayo Clinic says it follows the law and will not comment on pending litigation. The case underscores risks as hospitals expand AI use and the need for robust oversight and whistleblower protections.
Whistleblower Alleges Mayo Clinic Hid AI Assistant's 67% Error Rate and Ousted Lead
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Traci Tamiko Eto, a former Mayo Clinic research director and AI compliance lead, has filed a civil lawsuit alleging the health system retaliated against her after she raised concerns about privacy, data security and regulatory compliance tied to the institution’s AI work.
According to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), Eto joined Mayo Clinic in 2023 and soon flagged potential privacy issues related to the Mayo Clinic Platform, an AI‑integrated data system. She alleges a supervisor warned that addressing those concerns would "jeopardize the pace on ongoing research projects, which in turn would compromise Mayo's competitive advantage."
Allegations About MAYA
One of Eto’s central claims targets MAYA, Mayo Clinic’s AI‑driven digital assistant. Her complaint alleges that team members overstated MAYA’s capabilities, removed unfavorable test results from records, and made decisions that weakened data security. MPR reported that one of Eto’s 10 whistleblower complaints asserted staff were aware the assistant produced incorrect results roughly 67% of the time.
Retaliation Claims and Timeline
Eto says the situation escalated after she repeatedly raised these issues. She alleges she was excluded from executive meetings in early 2025, labeled a "poor cultural fit," and pressured to resign or face adverse changes to her personnel file that could harm her future career.
Mayo Clinic said in a statement: "Our research and clinical innovation are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and we remain steadfast in upholding the trust patients place in us and respecting their privacy. Mayo Clinic does not comment on pending or active litigation."
Artur Davis, Eto’s attorney, told MPR: "When an individual decides that they are willing to file a lawsuit against a public goliath on matters that are hot button issues in our country, she is literally risking her career. … She is risking her reputation, and for her to do that tells you something about her level of confidence that she's right."
Broader Concerns
The lawsuit highlights broader questions about how health systems test, document and approve AI tools before deploying them in clinical settings. Hospitals increasingly use AI for research, patient communication, clinical documentation and administrative tasks — and if a system is inaccurate, insufficiently tested, or implemented without strong oversight, the consequences for patient care and public trust can be serious.
Experts and patient advocates say protections for whistleblowers are critical: if employees fear retaliation for reporting safety or privacy problems, serious issues can go unaddressed for longer than they should. The case may increase public and regulatory scrutiny of AI development and governance at major health systems.
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