US Edition"Wells Act" Aims to Enhance Labor Discharge Plans and Tackle Racial Bias in Hospitals
Rep. Robin Kelly proposes the Women Expansion for Learning and Labor Safety Act to require safe discharge plans and racial bias training after a patient gave birth in a vehicle.
- On Nov. 25, Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Illinois, announced plans to introduce legislation named for Mercedes Wells after Thanksgiving following Wells's Nov. 16 discharge minutes before giving birth as her husband rushed her in a Silverado.
- Because Black women face higher maternal mortality, Kelly said the bill targets systemic issues in maternal health, racial disparities and hospital accountability, citing CDC and USA TODAY reports of 50 deaths per 100,000 live births.
- During transport, Leon Wells called 911 but helped deliver the baby without gloves as Wells said she had to push six minutes into the drive.
- Franciscan Health responded by firing the doctor and nurse involved, issuing a formal apology last week, and pledging policy changes including physician exams before discharge and cultural competency training for labor and delivery staff.
- The WELLS Act would require a Safe Discharge Labor Plan with clinical justification, travel assessment, documented patient understanding, mandate racial-bias training, and apply to federally qualified health centers, rural clinics, tribal programs and community birthing centers.
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Bill Introduced To Combat Hospitals Turning Away Black Women In Labor
Source: FatCamera / Getty Mercedes Wells, a Black woman in Indiana, went viral earlier this month after releasing a video showing herself being sent home from a hospital despite being in active labor. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) introduced a bill in Congress that aims to prevent hospitals from turning away women while they’re in labor. According to NBC News, the Women Expansion for Learning and Labor Safety Act, or WELLS Act, would require hospit…
Bill Introduced To Combat Hospitals Turning Away Black Women In Labor
Source: FatCamera / Getty Mercedes Wells, a Black woman in Indiana, went viral earlier this month after releasing a video showing herself being sent home from a hospital despite being in active labor. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) introduced a bill in Congress that aims to prevent hospitals from turning away women while they’re in labor. According to NBC News, the Women Expansion for Learning and Labor Safety Act, or WELLS Act, would require hospit…
Dolton mom turned away from hospital during labor calls for changes to maternal health
The mother, Mercedes Wells, spoke with reporters on Tuesday with U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, who plans to introduce a bill to make sure what happened to Wells never happens again.
A woman gave birth 8 minutes after a hospital turned her away. A bill aims to stop that from happening again.
A new bill will head to Congress to prevent women from being turned away or sent home from a hospital while in active labor, after a video circulated of a Black woman writhing in pain at an Indiana hospital.
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