Franciscan Health in Crown Point, Indiana, has fired a doctor and a nurse who discharged a pregnant woman in active labor, forcing her to deliver her baby in her family truck just eight minutes later.
Mercedes Wells, a 38-year-old mother from Dolton, Illinois, arrived at the hospital with her husband, Leon, just after midnight on Nov. 16, believing she was ready to welcome her fourth child.
According to Wells, she knew something was wrong when she went to the hospital to give birth and they did not put her in a labor and delivery room.
For nearly six hours, staff monitored her, but she says her pain grew stronger and contractions moved closer together. According to the Chicago Tribune, a nurse then told her she was “not far enough along,” citing orders from a doctor the couple never saw. Despite Wells' pleas and visible distress, they were sent home. The couple was discharged around 6:20 a.m.
Eight minutes after being told to leave, Wells gave birth to her daughter, Alena, in the front seat of their vehicle, with 911 dispatchers guiding Leon over the phone.
Wells' mother captured the emotional aftermath on video of Wells sobbing while cradling the newborn. The footage was later shared on Facebook and quickly went viral, amassing widespread attention and calls for accountability.
On Nov. 21, after the videos became public, Franciscan Health Crown Point President and CEO Raymond Grady issued a public apology, acknowledging the "difficult to watch" video.
“Compassionate concern is absent when a caregiver fails to listen to a patient who is clearly in pain and vulnerable,” Grady said in a statement, according to the Tribune. “We failed to listen to Mrs. Wells’ concerns. As an experienced mother who publicly acknowledged having previously given birth at our hospital with a positive experience, she knew something was not right.”
In his statement, Grady confirmed that both the physician and nurse "directly involved" in Wells' care had been terminated following an internal investigation.
"This does not reflect the values of Franciscan Health Crown Point, which include respect for life and compassionate concern," Grady stated, vowing reforms to prevent future failures.
The hospital has since mandated two key changes: cultural competency training for all labor and delivery staff, and a requirement that every pregnant patient be examined by a physician before discharge from the unit.
"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," Grady said. "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."
Despite the hospital's claims of outreach, Leon told the Tribune on Nov. 21 that the family had not heard from Franciscan officials.
"This would make it a little less likely that another woman would go through what my wife went through," Leon said of the firings and promised reforms.
The Wells family, now represented by attorney Cannon Lambert, has alleged the treatment may have been influenced by racial bias, as Mercedes and Leon are black.
"I was stripped of my dignity. As a person, I was treated less than an animal," Wells told ABC News 7 Chicago Digital.
Wells was readmitted Nov. 24 to Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana — where she and Alena received post-birth care immediately after the roadside delivery — for complications related to the birth.
According to the Tribune, the family’s attorney called the terminations "the right move" in a statement but raised concerns about accountability for other staff who witnessed the situation without intervening. No lawsuit has been filed yet. Instead, the family is seeking an in-person meeting with administrators and a comprehensive review of protocols to ensure equitable care, according to reports.
Grady expressed hope for a personal meeting with the Wells family soon, emphasizing the hospital's commitment to "fix what failed" so no one endures similar trauma.