No mother in labor should be ignored, left in pain, or forced to give birth in a car.

But that’s exactly what happened to Karrie Jones in Texas and Mercedes Wells in Indiana—two Black women who say hospital staff delayed or denied emergency care while they were actively in labor.

In one case, a nurse reportedly refused to admit Jones—who was screaming in pain—until she completed intake questions. Her mother asked if this was how all patients were treated “or just the Black ones.”

In the other, Wells was sent home without ever seeing a doctor. Minutes later, she gave birth on the side of the road. Her husband watched their baby crown in the front seat of their truck.

This isn’t just negligent. It’s systemic. And it’s deadly.

Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth than white women in the U.S., according to the CDC. One of the most preventable causes? Delayed or denied care.

We demand immediate action from:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
The Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals
State health departments in Texas and Indiana
Our asks:

• Investigate Dallas Regional Medical Center and Franciscan Health Crown Point for failure to meet emergency care standards under EMTALA.
• Audit labor and delivery protocols to ensure no patient is denied care because of race, income, or appearance.
• Require immediate triage within 10 minutes of arrival for visibly laboring patients in all ERs nationwide.
• Enforce accountability for hospitals that delay care and put Black mothers at risk.

This is not an isolated event—it is part of a long pattern of ignoring Black women’s pain. And it’s time to end it.

Sign this petition if you believe every woman in labor deserves respect, care, and safety—no matter her race.