Mother who gave birth in vehicle after an Indiana hospital forced her to leave has inspired new legislation targeting labor and delivery protocols

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Mercedes Wells (Facebook)

An Indiana mother who was forced to leave Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital during active labor may soon see justice, as her husband delivered their fourth child on the side of the road just minutes later.

Mercedes Wells gave birth to a baby girl on November 16, while her husband, Leon Wells, assisted in the delivery inside their vehicle.

Mercedes and baby Alena/photo by (Leon Wells)

Mercedes was reportedly told to go home because a nurse didn't believe she was in active labor. A video of the new mother being wheeled out of the hospital has gone viral, and additional videos and photos surfaced showing her returning to the hospital shortly after her discharge with her newborn baby.

According to Nurse.org, a Facebook post claims that Wells was checked around midnight the night before and was found to be approximately 3 centimeters dilated. The following morning, when hospital staff checked her again and found she was still at 3 centimeters, she alleges that the nurse informed her she would be discharged. A further post by Wells' sister-in-law states that the nurse who checked her was relatively new, having only a few months of labor and delivery experience.

Photo by Leon Wells

As a result of this incident, the doctor and nurse responsible for Wells' care were terminated. Raymond Grady, the President and CEO of the hospital, publicly addressed the situation, stating that the online video was "difficult" to watch and acknowledging that the hospital "failed" the Wells family.

Grady further commented, "First, the physician and the nurse directly involved with Mrs. Wells’ care are no longer employed by Franciscan. Secondly, I have mandated cultural competency training for all labor and delivery staff. Lastly, all pregnant patients leaving the Labor and Delivery unit will be examined by a physician before they leave the hospital.

On behalf of Franciscan Alliance and Franciscan Health Crown Point, I apologize to Mrs. Wells and her family for failing to live up to our Franciscan values. We are committed to holding ourselves accountable through our actions so that every patient is heard and receives compassionate, equitable care. Any evidence of actions to the contrary will not be tolerated. We’ve reached out to the family, and it is my hope to meet in person with them very soon."

In the midst of this controversy, a family member confirmed on social media that the new mother was readmitted to the hospital for "post-birth issues." Wells reportedly began experiencing severe pain and hemorrhaging. According to PEOPLE, her brother-in-law stated that she is suffering trauma from the difficult delivery and is currently being medicated.

U.S. Rep Robin Kelly, Mercedes, and (husband) Leon

U.S. Representative Robin Kelly from Illinois has announced her plans to introduce health legislation known as the Wells Act. This bill aims to ensure that mothers in labor are not forced to leave the hospital prematurely. Representative Kelly emphasized that the legislation encourages hospitals to create and implement a safe discharge plan for laboring mothers, which includes a clinical justification for discharge and ensures that patients fully understand the process. She has committed to introducing the WELLS Act—short for Women Expansion for Learning and Labor Safety Act—once the House reconvenes after Thanksgiving, according to her Congressional website. Rep Kelly stated, “Mercedes has given birth three times before and was telling the nurse she was in active labor, but far too often, Black women’s pain is ignored, dismissed, and discharged,” Kelley said. “This cannot continue to happen.”

During the press conferences, Mercedes said, “I’ll live with this experience for the rest of my life. No expecting mother should be visited by this kind of horror. I’m ready to join Congresswoman Kelly in advocating for women like me. I’m ready to speak up and speak out so that one day, substandard medical care is a thing of the past.”

This story may be updated.

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