An Illinois congresswoman is proposing new legislation to address systemic issues around maternal healthcare, racial disparities and hospital accountability after one of her constituents was discharged from a hospital while she was in active labor.
Mercedes Wells was discharged from Franciscan Health Crown Point minutes before she gave birth to her fourth child on Nov. 16 in the front seat of a Chevrolet Silverado as her husband, Leon Wells, rushed her to another hospital.
Wells' congresswoman, Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Illinois, said at a news conference on Nov. 25 she plans to introduce legislation after Thanksgiving named for Wells to prevent a similar situation from happening again and "protect all moms."
The Women Expansion for Learning and Labor Safety Act will urge hospitals and birthing centers to develop a safe discharge labor plan that includes a clinical justification for and patient understanding of the reasons for discharge, an identified back-up hospital or birthing facility, an assessment of travel distance and a verification of reliable transportation.
The act would also require racial bias training for healthcare professionals. Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus' Health Braintrust, said it's clear that Wells' story is not an isolated incident and that the issue is not specific to Franciscan Health, but rather systemic.
