Black Woman Forced to Give Birth in Car After Hospital Ignored Her Pain

""My bill aims to address systematic issues around maternal care, racial disparities, and hospital accountability," Rep. Kelly told the outlet. "It's clear that what happened to Mercedes isn't an isolated incident, nor is it the first time a Black woman's pain has been ignored." The U.S. has one of the worst maternal mortality rates among wealthy countries, with rates worsening since the 1990s."

"The risk of maternal mortality is also particularly bad in states where abortion is banned, and a report by the CDC this year confirmed that mothers living in such states are "nearly twice as likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth, or soon after giving birth, compared to mothers living in supportive states where abortion was legal and accessible." Compound all of this with the fact that the Trump administration-in its DEI wars-basically gutted the office in charge of overseeing and tracking these rates,"

"According to Kelly, the WELLS Act will require health care professionals to undergo mandatory racial bias training, and require any hospital that provides OB-GYN or labor and delivery services to have in place a "Safe Discharge Labor Plan," for any patient who seems to have symptoms of labor. She plans to formally introduce the plan next week, after the House returns from its holiday weekend."

Legal action seeks justice for Mercedes Wells after an alleged denial of care to a Black mother. The U.S. has one of the worst maternal mortality rates among wealthy countries and rates have worsened since the 1990s. Indiana’s maternal mortality rate for Black women is particularly high; Black women there are 93% more likely to die than white women, per state health data. Mothers in states banning abortion are nearly twice as likely to die during pregnancy or postpartum, per CDC. The WELLS Act would mandate racial-bias training and require hospitals offering OB-GYN and labor services to implement Safe Discharge Labor Plans. Franciscan Health fired the clinician and nurse involved and acknowledged failing to listen to Wells' concerns.

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