Overview
- Mercedes Wells says she spent about six hours at Franciscan Health Crown Point, was recorded at three centimeters, and was discharged on a doctor's orders without ever seeing a physician as her contractions neared one minute apart.
- Eight minutes after leaving, she delivered daughter Alena in the family vehicle; 911 directed them to Munster Community Hospital, where both are recovering.
- Franciscan Health says it launched an internal investigation, with CEO Raymond Grady calling the video deeply troubling and citing patient‑privacy limits on further comment.
- The family alleges racial bias, has retained attorney Cannon Lambert, and is seeking the nurse’s termination, a meeting with administrators, and a policy requiring doctor evaluation for patients in labor.
- Medical experts cited EMTALA obligations to appropriately screen and stabilize patients in labor, raising compliance questions; the family has not filed a legal complaint as they press for policy changes.