Hospital Refuses Mom in Labor, She’s Forced to Deliver Baby on the Road (Video)

A mom in Indiana could have lost her life—and the life of her unborn baby—after being turned away from a hospital while in active labor.

Mercedes Wells arrived at Franciscan Health Crown Point on November 16, believing she was in active labor. Despite clearly experiencing strong contractions and visibly in pain, Wells says hospital staff dismissed her and refused to admit her.

Her sister-in-law, Cherise Thompson, described the desperate situation. “Mercedes begged her. She begged her,” Thompson said, referring to the nurse on duty. “She said, ‘I’m really in active labor. I can feel it, contractions as I walk. I mean my pain. I’m telling you, I can feel it.’ And she just ignored her.”

Video footage shows Wells being wheeled out of the hospital—not into a delivery room, but out the front door. Staff reportedly told her she was only three centimeters dilated and instructed her to go home and wait.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

Just eight minutes later, Wells delivered her baby in the family car on the highway. Her husband pulled over, grabbed a blanket, and safely delivered their daughter before driving the family to Munster Community Hospital.

Both mother and baby are now healthy, but the family is demanding accountability. “I want there to be some sort of change so that other families don’t have to experience this,” Thompson said.

Franciscan Health has stated that it is investigating the incident.