Federal officials accuse chiropractors of forcing Scientology on staffers

A Florida medical facility is the target of a federal lawsuit for allegedly forcing employees to practice Scientology and firing those who did not comply with the order.

ABC News reported on Tuesday that Miami-based Dynamic Medical Services, a medical and chiropractic center, is being sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for requiring at least three employees to attend Scientology courses both at the facility and at a local Church of Scientology building. The suit, filed in federal District Court, accuses Dynamic Medical of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In a statement released on May 9, 2013, the agency said one employee, Rommy Sanchez, was forced to undergo an "audit," a form of confession designed to clear the person undergoing it of "negative influences" by being hooked up to a device known as an "E-meter." Sanchez was also allegedly required to undergo "purification" treatment.

According to the EEOC's statement, employees who refused to attend the courses were told they were job requirements. Two employees were then allegedly fired after being found to "not conform to Scientology religious beliefs."

The company denied any improprieties in a statement sent by fax, saying it prided itself on "the diversity of its staff" and that it expected to be vindicated from the "baseless allegations" against it.

[Image by Janet Lackey via Flickr Creative Commons]