Former Lurie Children's Hospital employee alleges she was fired for whistleblowing

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A former employee of Lurie Children's Hospital has filed a lawsuit claiming she was fired for reporting safety issues to state regulators.

Christina Christner worked as a pharmacy tech at the hospital.

She accused Lurie of unsanitary practices while preparing medications—including the reuse of gloves and single-use fluid bags, the use of medications past their expiration, the use of rubbing alcohol to wipe down surfaces instead of sterile alcohol.

Christner alleged that she complained to management, but nothing was done—so she filed a report with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Emails provided by attorneys said the IDFPR informed Christner that her "complaints were found to be valid," that she provided "very good evidence of a lack of compliance," but it looked like no one want[ed] to take responsibility for sterile compounding."     

According to the lawsuit, Christner was fired a week after investigators visited the hospital.

In a statement, Lurie denied the allegations and said safety is a priority:

"We have recently learned that a former employee has filed a lawsuit against Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago seeking monetary damages.  Lurie Children's consistently prioritizes safe, high-quality care to the patients and communities we serve and fosters an ethical workplace for employees. To the extent suggested otherwise in this lawsuit, such allegations are false."