Owatonna nurse files suit against Mayo Clinic

An Owatonna woman who was reportedly terminated from her job as a nurse for Mayo Clinic has filed a lawsuit in federal court, claiming the healthcare giant violated her religious rights.

In October, Mayo Clinic made COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all employees. Shelly Kiel, who worked as a licensed practical nurse at Owatonna Clinic, asked for a religious exemption.

According to her civil suit, which was filed last week, Kiel believes “her body is a Temple to the Holy Spirit and it violates her religious beliefs and conscience to take the COVID-19 vaccine.”

Mayo denied both her original request and an appeal; Kiel was terminated from her job on Jan. 3.

Ten weeks later, on March 14, Mayo Clinic suspended the vaccine mandate. As a result, the lawsuit says, “Mayo’s remaining unvaccinated employees are now treated similarly to vaccinated employees.”

There are several issues, Kiel’s attorney said, including the fact that Kiel could have worked remotely, answering patient messages via phone or Zoom “without (Mayo) suffering any undue hardship.”

In addition, Kiel tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered, “which provided her with natural immunity,” the complaint says. When she tried to show the results of her December blood test, “Mayo refused to consider the results.”

Partial reversal of the mandate “demonstrate(s) that the terminations were unnecessary or a pretext,” her attorney wrote.

Kiel had worked more than 18 years for Mayo, with positive job performance reviews calling her “a role model,” “a joy to work with,” and “always very helpful.”

She declined to comment for this story.

The lawsuit alleges federal and state religious discrimination by Mayo Clinic; violation of an Americans with Disabilities Act statute that prohibits employers from requiring current employees to undergo medical examinations or inquiries unless they are job-related and consistent with business necessity; wrongful discharge; and breach of contract.

Kiel, who is requesting a jury trial, is seeking damages of more than $75,000.

Mayo Clinic has 60 days to respond to the suit.

Officials provided a statement saying, “Mayo Clinic stands firmly behind the evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines … Mayo Clinic will defend its vaccine program implementation and disputes many of the factual allegations in the lawsuit.”

It went on to say that “the majority of religious exemption requests were granted.”

At the time of the vaccine mandate deadline, Mayo Clinic claimed “nearly 99%” of its 73,000 employees were vaccinated or were granted exemptions.