This petition is a personal plea from a grieving family which tragically lost a child and suffered religious discrimination at the Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., according to their charges at the D.C. Office of Human Rights and whistle-blowing to members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Their heartrending story, as captured in audio recordings, reveals how they, as traditional Protestants, were forced to consider converting to an unfamiliar religion as a prerequisite for their child's discharge. Subsequently, they have encountered threats from the hospital for openly discussing their distressing experiences.

The hospital's Chaplaincy should be a place of solace offering spiritual support for families from all faiths; yet, this incident exposes the dire need to diversify, and for training the hospital's spiritual caregivers. The current state of affairs has not only led to familial distress but has also compromised the hospital's mission of providing care in a compassionate and inclusive setting.

According to a 2019 study published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality, effective and patient-focused spiritual care in health facilities significantly contributes to patient satisfaction and wellbeing. Hospitals that lack religious diversity in their chaplaincy services might compromise this important caring aspect, inadvertently creating an environment where families might feel pressured, judged, or excluded because of their faith.

This is a clarion call to Children's National Hospital and its leadership to reevaluate its spiritual care services, ensure faith representation, and uphold religious freedom for all families that rely on its services. Let's counter discrimination and make the hospital a space where all families feel safe, understood, and respected regardless of their religious beliefs. Help us create this change - sign this petition today.