November 18, 2025
An Indiana hospital is underneath fireplace for turning away a Black girl in lively labor who gave delivery minutes later inside her automobile.
Social media is on fireplace in response to a video displaying a Black girl in lively labor being wheeled out of a hospital, solely to offer delivery minutes later in her automobile—highlighting the continued Black maternal well being disaster.
Mercedes Wells and her new child are recovering at a Munster, Indiana, hospital after a now-viral video confirmed her being denied entry to Franciscan Well being Crown Level in Crown Level, Indiana, CBS Information stories. Within the video, a nurse could be seen wheeling Wells out of the hospital regardless of clear indicators of lively labor.
Her household, who recorded and shared the video, mentioned the hospital turned Wells away for being solely three centimeters dilated and advised her to return later. Simply eight minutes after leaving Franciscan Well being, she gave delivery within the household’s automobile.
Wells’ sister-in-law, Cherice Pleasure Thompson, mentioned they have been visiting household in Indiana and the child wasn’t due for a number of extra weeks.
“I really feel like my household’s rights have been violated,” Thompson mentioned.
She remembers her brother, Wells’ husband, driving whereas serving to his spouse ship their child minutes after being pressured out of the hospital.
“She mentioned, ‘I’ve received to push.’ … He was driving with one hand, ripped her pants off with the opposite hand, appeared down, and he mentioned he might see the child’s head. And he was like, ‘Oh my God, right here’s the child’s head,’” Thompson mentioned. “He grabbed a blanket, caught the child, after which put the child on my sister-in-law’s chest, Mercedes’ chest, and the umbilical, all the things was nonetheless hooked up, they usually stored on driving.”
The household referred to as 911 and stayed on the road through the supply. Dispatchers directed them to a close-by Munster hospital, which welcomed them. Thompson mentioned they’re grateful for the care Wells and her child obtained, however stay shaken and upset by their expertise at Franciscan Well being.
“Once I went to the hospital yesterday, once I opened up the door, Mercedes noticed me, she simply began crying, as a result of she feels violated, she feels unheard. You understand, she feels dismissed,” Thompson mentioned.
Franciscan Well being mentioned it has launched an investigation. The hospital faces widespread criticism on social media, with many citing the incident as one other instance of the maternal well being disaster disproportionately affecting Black girls, who’re thrice extra prone to die in childbirth than white girls.
“A complete hospital despatched her away whereas she was actually giving delivery, that is precisely why maternal care in America wants critical reform,” one X person wrote.
“From hospital rejection to a freeway delivery in 8 minutes… that is horrifying. Hospitals want accountability NOW,” one other person added.
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