A physician and a nurse at an Indiana hospital are no longer working there after a woman says she was turned away despite being in active labor, hospital leaders confirmed.
Franciscan Health Crown Point President and CEO Raymond Grady said in a statement Friday, Nov. 21, that the two staff members “directly involved” in Mercedes Wells’ care are no longer employed by the facility.
Wells and her husband, Leon, arrived at the hospital on Nov. 16 after calling ahead the previous day. But according to Wells, staff told her to return home and wait for labor to progress, WLS reported.
Cell phone video taken inside the hospital shows Wells breathing heavily while seated in a wheelchair before security escorts her out. In an interview with CBS News Chicago, she said she was greeted with what felt like cold, dismissive reactions instead of compassion.
She also said she was in severe pain, but the nurse who evaluated her told her she wasn’t far enough along to be admitted.
Just eight minutes after leaving the hospital, Wells delivered her daughter, Alena, in her husband’s car on the side of the road.
Grady called the video “difficult to watch” and said the incident did not align with the hospital’s stated values. He acknowledged that Wells’ concerns were not taken seriously, noting that she had previously delivered at the same hospital and believed something was wrong this time.
After the incident, the Wells family hired an attorney and alleged they were treated unfairly because they are Black, WFLD reported.
Grady said the hospital is taking additional steps in response. He has ordered cultural competency training for all labor and delivery staff and directed that any pregnant patient leaving the unit must first be examined by a physician.
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He also said he has reached out to Wells and hopes to meet with her and her husband.
After giving birth in the car, Wells was transported to Community Hospital in Munster for follow-up care, CBS News reported.
