The joyous anticipation of childbirth turned into a nightmare for one Indiana family, shining a harsh spotlight on medical negligence in the healthcare system. Mercedes Wells, a mother in active labor, was turned away from Franciscan Health Crown Point hospital, only to give birth in her car just minutes later. The incident, captured on video, has sparked outrage and led to the immediate termination of the doctor and nurse involved.
“Not Far Enough Along”
On November 16, 2025, Mercedes Wells and her husband, Leon, arrived at the hospital in the middle of the night. Despite her contractions being just one minute apart and her visible agony, staff refused to admit her. According to Wells, the nurse who evaluated her claimed she was only 3 centimeters dilated and instructed her to go home.
“I was met with really stern faces,” Wells told reporters. “No welcoming faces as I usually would get when I go to a hospital.”
Video footage taken by her family shows Wells in a wheelchair, gasping for breath and writhing in pain, as security escorted her off the premises. The refusal of treatment in such a critical state has raised serious questions about the hospital’s protocols and the empathy of its staff.
A Roadside Delivery
The hospital’s assessment proved dangerously wrong. Just eight minutes after being discharged, Wells gave birth to her daughter, Alena, in the front seat of her husband’s car on the side of the road.
“He was driving with one hand, ripped my pants off with the other,” Wells recalled. Her husband caught the baby, and they continued driving to a different facility, Community Hospital in Munster, where they were reportedly welcomed with the care they originally sought.
Accountability and Legal Action
The fallout was swift. Raymond Grady, President and CEO of Franciscan Health Crown Point, issued a public apology, admitting, “We failed to listen to Mrs. Wells’ concerns.” He confirmed that the physician and nurse responsible for the discharge are no longer employed by the hospital.
The Wells family has since retained an attorney to seek justice. Their lawyer alleges that the mistreatment was influenced by racial bias, a concern that resonates with broader national statistics. According to the CDC, Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women, highlighting a systemic disparity in care.
Systemic Changes and Insurance Implications
In response to the scandal, the hospital has mandated “cultural competency training” for all labor and delivery staff. Additionally, a new policy now requires that any pregnant patient being discharged must be physically examined by a physician, not just a nurse, to prevent such gross errors in judgment.
From a liability standpoint, incidents like this are a nightmare for hospital administrators and their malpractice insurance providers. Turning away a patient in unstable condition violates the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which ensures public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay.
The prompt firing of the staff suggests the hospital is moving quickly to mitigate damage, but for Mercedes Wells, the trauma of that night remains. “I was treated so poorly and inhumane,” she said. “I still can’t believe it.”
