Sanford Health Faces Retaliation Lawsuit from Former Oncologist

FARGO — A lawsuit alleging retaliation against a surgical oncologist who raised patient safety concerns at Sanford Health has moved from state to federal court. Dr. Sabha Ganai initially filed the suit in Cass County, North Dakota, in July 2024, claiming Sanford violated state whistleblower statutes. Inforum reported on the case’s progression.

Allegations of Retaliation

Dr. Ganai, hired by Sanford in 2020, alleges she faced repercussions after questioning the health system’s reliance on data from Vizient, a healthcare performance improvement company. According to court documents, Ganai and her team frequently handled complex cases transferred from other facilities, often involving patients with critical conditions.

Concerns Over Data Accuracy

The lawsuit centers on concerns about the accuracy of Vizient data, which is derived from administrative billing codes without clinical verification. Helm News details that Ganai argued Vizient was “designed for benchmarking hospital quality, not surgeon quality.” A 2020 review led by Ganai reportedly found that Vizient data had “poor intrinsic validity,” accurately reporting only about 30% of cases.

Performance Improvement Plan and Termination

In August 2023, Ganai’s division faced scrutiny due to a Vizient report indicating “significantly worse outcomes” and a “higher than desired observed to expected ratio for mortality.” Ganai was subsequently placed on a performance improvement plan. She requested a peer review, but it was never scheduled. In December 2023, Ganai described Sanford’s administration as “toxic” in an anonymous employee survey, expressing concerns about patient care and physician well-being. InForum’s Facebook post highlights Ganai’s criticism of the administration.

Sanford terminated Ganai’s employment in January 2024. The case was moved to U.S. District Court on March 6, 2026, due to federal claims of job discrimination and interference under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Sanford’s Response

Sanford Health has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, stating, “Sanford Health does not comment on active or pending litigation. Sanford Health is consistently recognized as a top organization to work in health care, demonstrating a strong commitment to workplace culture, leadership development and providing resources that support a work-life balance.”

Legal Representation

Dr. Ganai is represented by the Prinz Law Firm in Chicago and Fargo attorney Leo Wilking. The trial, originally scheduled for October in Cass County, has been postponed following the move to federal court.