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Religious Rights and the Importance of Spiritual Care During Treatment

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February 2009

Disclaimer: This material is prepared by the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office with the intention that it provide general information in summary form on legal and advocacy topics which is current when first published. The contents do not constitute legal advice or recommendations and should not be relied upon as such. Appropriate legal advice should be obtained in actual situations. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this material, the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the material, including those caused by negligence. The Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office is not responsible for the accuracy of information contained on other websites accessed by links from this website.


This infoguide was created through a partnership between the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office and the Ontario Multifaith Council. The PPAO acknowledges the enormous contribution made by the Ontario Multifaith Council in this endeavour with both technical assistance and a shared commitment to the promotion of patient rights.

Canadian “Charter of Rights” and the Ontario “Human Rights Code” protect your right to religious participation.

The practice of religious faith is also part of how we ‘make sense’ of our situation and find the spiritual strength, courage, and hope to deal with it.
The Chaplain or Spiritual and Religious Caregiver serve those of any faith and those of no faith. They are guides offering spiritual direction in times of crisis, questioning and wonderment. When you are scared, lonely, confused angry or disillusioned, they will listen, clarify and share your pain.

What are my religious rights while in hospital?

  • You have a right to the regular, normal practices of your faith group. This includes worship, diet, prayer and the other regular religious disciplines of your Faith Group. You also have a right to the visitation, direction and support your faith community offers. The Chaplain or Spiritual and Religious Caregiver will help make the necessary arrangements for other hospital services to accommodate your needs and respect your faith practices.

If I am from a minority faith, will my religious rights be protected?

  • Yes. Your religious rights will not only be protected, the hospital has an obligation to accommodate your needs where possible. This includes diet, prayer times and seasonal faith celebrations. The Chaplain or Spiritual and Religious Caregiver will support and protect you from any religious disrespect, discrimination, or attempt to convert you to another faith. Your legal status or safety concerns may have an effect on how your religious rights can be accommodated.
  • The Human Rights Code forbids discrimination on the basis of creed or ethic origin. Physicians must comply with the Human Rights Code when making any decision relating to the provision of medical services. This includes decisions to accept or refuse individuals as patients, decisions about providing treatment or granting referrals to existing patients, and decisions to end a physician-patient relationship.

Can I meet with a leader from my faith community while in the hospital?

  • Yes. Generally, you can meet in privacy and at their first available opportunity. Some restrictions may apply based on safety concerns. You may meet with them as frequently as you like subject to their availability. All visitors, including religious and spiritual leaders, must comply with hospital policies.

>How do I access religious services that may not be offered in the hospital?

  • Usually you will be asked your religious identity and needs on admission. But you can make this known at any time during your hospitalization. You can get the support you need through the Chaplain or the Spiritual and Religious Care Department. Information about contact with the Chaplain is usually posted in the hospital. You may contact them directly. They will assist you to get the support you want from your Faith Group including making arrangements, support and accommodation for your faith community visitors.

Can I arrange this myself?

  • Yes. Most hospitals have regular services provided by a variety of local Faith Communities. If your Faith Group is not among them, call the nearest congregation and leave a message with them. Ask them to contact the chaplain for information and arrangements.

Who in the hospital can help me?

  • The Chaplain or someone from the Spiritual and Religious Care Department will help in whatever way necessary. If you are not able to contact them directly ask the hospital staff to do so for you. You may also wish to speak to the Patient Advocate

How do I make my spiritual and religious needs known?

  • Contact the Chaplain directly or have someone do it for you. It is the Chaplain’s job to support your religious Rights and contact the Faith Community services that you want. It is also their job to help you sort through what Spiritual Care would support you most during your hospitalization.

What is spiritual care?

  • Spiritual care is concerned with the meaning and purpose of life. By focusing on the virtues of your beliefs, values, and faith, Spiritual Care helps you deal with the physical, mental or emotional issues that may arise during your hospitalization. It is a process that is directed by you.

Do my religious beliefs affect my care and treatment while in hospital?

  • Yes. Your religious beliefs help clarify your personal vision and life meaning. Prayer and religious disciplines directly affect your level of well being and comfort. These are important factors in any healing process.

Are discussions with a spiritual or religious leader kept confidential?

  • Generally, yes. The limits to confidentiality differ from one Faith Group to another. Your Faith Community leader will explain these limits to you. The hospital Chaplain may be part of your treatment team and be required to document information about you including spiritual care assessments, plans of care or other relevant issues. Always ask about what will remain confidential.

Are there circumstances in which my religious needs will not be accommodated?

  • Attending to your religious needs is not optional. There may be circumstances, however, where needs cannot be accommodated. These “exceptions” must be reasonable and respectful of your needs. If you feel your Religious Rights are not being honoured or believe you have been discriminated against because of your Religious identity, you may contact the Chaplain or the Patient Advocate Office for assistance

What if I feel that my rights have been violated?

  • All hospitals will have a process for filing a complaint. You may wish to speak with a Chaplain or someone from the Spiritual and Religious Care Department. The hospital must provide an explanation for not accommodating your Religious needs. The Patient Advocate can provide you with information regarding other options that may be available to you.
  • If you believe that a physician has discriminated against you on the basis of moral, religious or spiritual belief or creed in contravention of the Human Rights Code, you may want to file a human rights application against them. For more information, call the Human Rights Legal Support Centre for a free consultation at 416-314-6266, 1-866-625-5179 or online at www.hrlsc.on.ca
  • You can also file a complaint against a physician by contacting the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario at 416 967-2615. 1-800 268-7096 ext 615, or at www.cpso.on.ca/policies/complaints/default.aspx?id=2092.
    You may download a complaint form at www.cpso.on.ca/uploadedFiles/policies/complaints
    /Complaint%20Form.pdf    .

Where else can I get additional information?

Questions?

If you have questions contact your local Patient Advocate or Rights Adviser or call the central Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office at 1-800-578-2343. Visit us on the Internet at www.ppao.gov.on.ca.

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