Minnesota —
FFRF saw corrective action taken at the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in Minneapolis after a patient reported being repeatedly contacted by a religious chaplain despite declining spiritual care.
A patient reported that, in fall 2025, they received multiple visits from an HCMC chaplain, despite repeatedly informing staff that they did not want to speak to a chaplain. Specifically, the complainant stated that when they were receiving in-patient care at HCMC in October 2025, they explicitly told a nurse they did not wish to see the chaplain after the chaplain’s first attempt at a visit. FFRF was told that the chaplain again visited the complainant against their wishes. Per MyChart records provided by the patient to FFRF, the chaplain also made outpatient calls to the complainant on Nov. 4 and Dec. 9, 2025. The complainant stated that the chaplain had still been listed as one of their providers by HCMC, despite having told staff and the chaplain that they did not wish to speak to or see a chaplain.
“Allowing a chaplain to continue to attempt to speak to a patient in direct violation of the patient’s express wishes needlessly marginalized our complainant,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the hospital.
FFRF is pleased to report that HCMC has renewed its dedication to protecting patients from religious coercion.
In an email to FFRF, HCMC Compliance Director Pameal Sandquist confirmed that the chaplain has been identified, and “the contract with this vendor has been terminated. Current employed Spiritual Care Providers have been reminded of the importance of following our processes, especially when a patient declines services.” Sandquist thanked FFRF for reporting the issue.
