An internal investigation has been launched at Franciscan Health in Crown Point, Indiana, after a video went viral showing a Black woman, Mercedes Wells, giving birth in a truck after being turned away from the hospital. The incident sparked outrage on social media and reignited discussions about the quality of care provided to Black women in emergency medical situations.
The reported facts
According to Mercedes Wells' account reported by NBC Chicago , the young mother went to the hospital shortly after midnight on November 16, 2025, when she started experiencing contractions. Medical staff reportedly told her that her labor was not yet advanced and advised her to go home and wait for her condition to improve.
Shortly after leaving the hospital, the contractions intensified to the point that her husband, Leon, had to attend the birth alone in their truck, parked not far from the hospital. "I saw her pushing… the baby arrived and I didn't know what to do, so I prayed," he told the media. A video circulating on social media shows the mother holding her newborn, the umbilical cord still attached, just a few meters from the facility that had just discharged her.
@shans_sweet_tea Mercedes Wells was allegedly kicked out of Franciscan Health Crown Point in Indiana after being told she “wasn't far enough along” #mercedeswells #indiana #childbirth #greenscreenvideo #greenscreen ♬ original sound - Shans Sweet Tea
Reactions from the public and the hospital
The images sparked a wave of reactions online, with many internet users expressing their outrage at the situation. Some messages denounced the experience as "unacceptable" and "racist," describing what should have been a "joyful and unforgettable" occasion as a source of trauma for the Wells family.
In response to the controversy, Franciscan Health issued a statement assuring that "patient health and safety remains the top priority" and announcing the opening of an internal investigation to shed light on the circumstances of the incident.
The internal investigation conducted by Franciscan Health Hospital will determine whether protocols were correctly applied and whether better communication could have prevented this tragedy. Beyond this individual case, the incident highlights the need for a thorough examination of the quality of care and treatment provided to women facing obstetric emergencies, regardless of their background or social status.
