A woman gave birth on the side of the road after she was discharged from an Indiana hospital while in active labor, according to her family.
Mercedes Wells was allegedly discharged from Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital on Sunday, Nov. 16, after being told by hospital staff to go home and wait for her labor to progress, according to ABC affiliate WLS.
The mom and her husband, Leon, called the hospital prior to their arrival on Saturday, Nov. 15, but claimed she was ignored before being sent home the following day, Fox affiliate WFLD reported.
Just eight minutes after leaving the hospital, Wells gave birth on the side of the road while she and her husband were on their way to another hospital.
Multiple videos have since gone viral of the woman being discharged from the hospital while in labor and after she gave birth to her baby.
Alena Ariel Wells was born at 6 lbs. and 18.5 inches long, according to a Facebook post shared by her uncle, Lance D. Thompson Jr.
He is one of many family members calling out Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital, claiming Mercedes was “wrongfully discharged” before giving birth.
Mercedes said she was told to go home because a nurse did not believe she was in active labor, according to a Facebook post shared by her sister-in-law, Cherise Thompson. At one point, she claimed, her contractions were just one minute apart.
“I begged to STAY while still upstairs in Labor and delivery Triage,” Mercedes recalled, but suggested she did not receive any empathy from the nursing staff. She later added, “I was treated SO poorly and inhumane. I still cant believe it.”
Mercedes eventually reached Munster Community Hospital, where she was cared for after the roadside birth, WLS reported.
The Wells family has since retained a lawyer, alleging that they were treated unfairly because they are Black, according to WFLD.
“I want there to be some sort of change so that other families don’t have to experience this,” Cherise told WLS.
Lance added, “If it implements change, implements strength, implements courage for other women that’s going through this, then that’s what I’m looking for, personally.”
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Franciscan Health Crown Point President and CEO Raymond Grady said the hospital is investigating the alleged incident, calling the video and its comments “deeply troubling.”
“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,” Grady said. “We are grateful to learn from online and media reports that both mother and child are reportedly doing well.”
The CEO also said, “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.”
He continued, “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.”