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An Indiana mother was reportedly turned away by hospital staff while actively in labor. Mercedes Wells, now a mother of four, and her husband, Leon, arrived at Franciscan Health Crown Point on November 16 after alerting the hospital a day earlier.
Wells told ABC affiliate WLS that staff instructed her to return home and wait for labor to progress. Cell phone footage captured Wells in a wheelchair, breathing heavily, before security escorted her out.
Hospital staff fired amid outrage
Franciscan Health Crown Point President and CEO Raymond Grady confirmed that the doctor and nurse involved are no longer employed. “We failed to listen to Mrs. Wells’ concerns,” Grady said. “Compassionate concern is absent when a caregiver ignores a patient in pain.”
He added the incident does not reflect the hospital’s values, which include respect for life and compassionate care. The hospital now requires cultural competency training for all labor and delivery staff. Additionally, any pregnant patient leaving the unit must be examined by a physician.
Mother delivers on roadside
Just eight minutes after being turned away, Wells delivered her daughter, Alena, in her husband’s car on the side of the road. Wells described arriving at the hospital and seeing “stern faces” without the usual welcoming care she expected.
Despite being in excruciating pain, the nurse told her she was not far enough along to be admitted. After the incident, the Wells family retained a lawyer, alleging racial bias in their treatment.
Hospital vows accountability
Grady issued an apology to Wells and her family: “We are committed to holding ourselves accountable and ensuring every patient receives equitable care.” He stressed the hospital will not tolerate actions contrary to Franciscan values.
The hospital also pledged to review its policies and prevent similar failures in the future. “We must fix what failed in our hospital so no one experiences what happened to Mercedes Wells,” Grady said.
