WARREN — A former surgeon at Sharon Regional Medical Center who had privileges at Trumbull Regional Medical Center has sued the parent company of both hospitals.

Dr. Edward L. Woods claims he was wrongfully terminated because he brought to attention safety issues and concerns relating to another surgeon, as well as resisting an alleged coverup instituted by his former employers.

Attorneys for Woods, now a resident of Virginia, filed the lawsuit recently in Mercer County (Pa.) Common Pleas Court seeking damages in excess of $1 million. The lawsuit claims Woods was the victim of unlawful retaliation for whistleblowing, a violation of public policy in the state of Pennsylvania.

Named as defendants are Sharon Regional Medical Center, the Sharon Clinic Co. LLC, the Steward Medical Group Inc. and the parent company, Dallas-based Steward Health Care System LLC.

Woods, a retired U.S. Navy commander who has been practicing medicine for more than 40 years, worked as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Sharon Regional from July 2014 through September 2019, when he was fired by Steward.

“Dr. Woods was singled out because he spoke out, and it cost him his career. Whistleblowers are the eyes and ears of the public, and, too often, they are retaliated against for reporting suspected wrongdoing and telling the truth,” said Woods’ attorney, Ross F. Casey of Philadelphia.

According to the lawsuit, Woods, who also practiced his craft at the Warren hospital, was asked to lie about another surgeon’s whereabouts when she was practicing in other states. Woods also reported serious medical mistakes made by that surgeon to their superiors.

The lawsuit noted that Woods assisted that surgeon with six open-heart surgeries during his time at Sharon Regional, two of which ended in deaths. In four of the procedures, Woods noted technical problems in that surgeon’s procedures.

Despite the persistent complaints about the surgeon, the lawsuit states the defendants did not listen or respond to many of these reports.

A request for comment was submitted to an email form for the Sharon Regional and other requests were submitted to media relations with the Steward corporate office and John Pierro, north region chief operating officer for Steward Health Care. None of these offered responses.

After time, the lawsuit states, the hospital administration and corporate officials became hostile and antagonistic against Woods because of his allegations.

For example, former Sharon Regional President Joe Hugar refused to speak to Woods after Feb. 7, 2019, on matters of patient care, the lawsuit states. The hospital system terminated Woods in September 2019, and Hugar left the hospital in November 2019..

The lawsuit was filed Sept. 24. It has not been assigned to a judge.