An Indiana hospital has launched an investigation after a woman alleged she was sent home while in active labor, only to deliver her baby on the side of the road minutes later.
In a social media post, Mercedes Wells stated she arrived at Franciscan Health in Crown Point, Indiana, just after midnight on November 16 with suspected labor. Her Facebook post said that she was sent home hours later without seeing a doctor, as nurses indicated she was not progressing and should return if labor persisted.
Her family told CBS News Chicago that despite being in active labor, staff at the hospital sent her away, instructing her to come back later as she was only three centimeters dilated.
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“Upon returning to the room, [the nurse was] like ‘Well, if you’re not further along in your centimeters, then you know we’ve got to send you home,'” Wells told NBC Chicago in an interview.
Social media accounts of Wells’ husband, Leon Wells, featured viral videos documenting his wife’s experience, showing the pregnant mother crying and clearly in pain as hospital staff wheeled her down the Franciscan Health Crown Point hallway. He also shared footage of his wife later holding their newborn in his car, with the umbilical cord still attached.
According to Wells’ sister-in-law, Cherice Joy Thompson, the family was visiting relatives in Indiana, and the baby was not expected for another couple of weeks.
“I feel like my family’s rights have been violated,” she said to CBS News.
Thompson reported that, just eight minutes after being discharged from Franciscan Health, Leon helped his wife deliver their newborn child in the family’s truck.
“She said, ‘I’ve got to push.’ … He was driving with one hand, ripped her pants off with the other hand, and looked down, and he said he could see the baby’s head. And he was like, ‘Oh my God, here’s the baby’s head,'” Thompson recounted to CBS News Chicago. “He grabbed a blanket, caught the baby, and then put the baby on my sister-in-law’s chest, Mercedes’ chest, and the umbilical cord, everything was still attached, and they kept on driving.”
“I saw her pushing … pulled a little bit, baby came out and just didn’t know what to do,” Leon said to NBC Chicago. “I just prayed.”
“I was scared,” Wells told NBC Chicago. “I didn’t know what to do.”
While on the phone with 911 dispatchers, the family was directed to Community Hospital in Munster, where they were “welcomed with open arms.” Thompson told CBS News that the family was grateful for the staff at Community Hospital, where Wells and her baby were recovering on November 17.
“911 was able to call the hospital and give them notice that they were coming, and so there were 15 doctors and nurses outside waiting for them to arrive,” Thompson recounted.
She called her brother a hero.
“He was able to be calm and deliver his baby in that kind of pressure,” she said.
Thompson provided an update on Wells’ current emotional state to CBS News, saying, “When I went to the hospital yesterday, when I opened up the door, Mercedes saw me. She just started crying, because she feels violated, she feels unheard. You know, she feels dismissed.”
The family also conveyed their expectation that the hospital staff who denied Wells care would be held responsible.
“We’ve heard of children not making it, so it could have gone any way, and I wasn’t being cared for by a professional,” Wells told NBC Chicago.
The Wells family also reported that they have not spoken to Franciscan Health since Sunday’s discharge, and their attorney announced they are requesting a meeting with the hospital’s administrators.
Nevertheless, the family reported that the baby, named Alena, was doing well as of November 18.
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Franciscan Health reported that an internal investigation is underway.
Raymond Grady, the President and CEO of Franciscan Health Crown Point, released a comprehensive statement to CBS News, saying:
“We are aware of the video and the concerns expressed on social media regarding the discharge of a pregnant patient from Franciscan Health Crown Point. We are grateful to learn from online and media reports that both mother and child are reportedly doing well.
“The video and the comments it has generated are deeply troubling, and we understand the concern this has raised. The video is just one part of the information we are reviewing as part of a thorough investigation into this alleged incident.
“While patient privacy laws make it difficult for us to comment more deeply, it is important to note that the videos and the narrative surrounding them do not accurately represent Franciscan Health Crown Point’s Catholic healthcare ministry’s values, which include respect for life, compassionate concern, and Christian stewardship. Our goal is to make everyone who walks through our doors feel the love of Christ through our actions.
“The reality is disparities in healthcare outcomes exist, and Franciscan Health Crown Point strives to be part of the solution, not the problem.
“We remain committed to meeting and exceeding all regulations and best practices for care, and we will take appropriate action based on the findings of our review.”
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