Illinois § 35

§ 35.

Whistleblower protections. (a) A hospital covered by this Act shall not penalize, discriminate, or retaliate in any manner against an employee with respect to compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment who in good faith, individually or in conjunction with another person or persons, does any of the following or intimidate, threaten, or punish an employee to prevent him or her from doing any of the following: (1) Discloses to the nursing staff supervisor or manager, a private accreditation organization, the nurse's collective bargaining agent, or a regulatory agency any activity, policy, or practice of a hospital that violates this Act or any other law or rule or that the employee reasonably believes poses a risk to the health, safety, or welfare of a patient or the public. (2) Initiates, cooperates, or otherwise participates in an investigation or proceeding brought by a regulatory agency or private accreditation body concerning matters covered by this Act or any other law or rule or that the employee reasonably believes poses a risk to the health, safety, or welfare of a patient or the public. (3) Objects to or refuses to participate in any activity, policy, or practice of a hospital that violates this Act or any law or rule of the Department or that a reasonable person would believe poses a risk to the health, safety, or welfare of a patient or the public. (4) Participates in a committee or peer review process or files a report or complaint that discusses allegation of unsafe, dangerous, or potentially dangerous care within the hospital. (b) For the purposes of this Section, an employee is presumed to act in good faith if the employee reasonably believes that (i) the information reported or disclosed is true and (ii) a violation has occurred or may occur. An employee is not acting in good faith under this Section if the employee's report or action was based on information that the employee should reasonably know is false or misleading. The protection of this Section shall also not apply to an employee unless the employee gives written notice to a hospital manager of the activity, policy, practice, or violation that the employee believes poses a risk to the health of a patient or the public and provides the manager a reasonable opportunity to correct the problem. The manager shall respond in writing to the employee within 7 days acknowledging that the notice was received and provide written notice of any action taken within a reasonable time of receiving the employee's notice. This notice requirement shall not apply if the employee is reasonably certain that the activity, policy, practice, or violation: (i) is known by one or more hospital managers who have had an opportunity to correct the problem and have not done so; (ii) involves the commission of a crime; or (iii) places patient health or safety in severe and immediate danger. The notice requirement shall not apply if the employee is participating in a survey, investigation, or other activity of a regulatory agency, law enforcement agency, or private accreditation body that was not initiated by the employee. Nothing in this Section prohibits a hospital from training, educating, correcting, or otherwise taking action to improve the performance of employees who report that they are unable or unwilling to perform an assigned task. (Source: P.A. 93-563, eff. 1-1-04.)