I am calling on the community and relevant authorities to demand accountability for the actions of a medical assistant at Midwest Express Clinic in Hobart, Indiana. On 02/02/2025, Our 3 year old son, who has autism, was forcibly and aggressively handled by a medical assistant during a routine visit to the clinic. This incident has left our son terrified and traumatized, and I believe it is crucial for the safety and well-being of all patients that this behavior is addressed.

The Incident:

On the evening of 02/02/2025, Our son, daughter and my wife, and I arrived at Midwest Express Clinic for a simple appointment to obtain a return letter for school. The clinic was about to close for the night, and the staff seemed impatient. Our son, who has autism, was having a meltdown, as often happens with children with special needs. The medical assistant became frustrated and forcibly handled our son in a way that caused him distress and fear.

Despite me and my wife explaining that his behavior was due to his condition and asking the assistant to stop, she continued. The medical assistant aggressively grabbed my son’s legs while my wife was holding him and forced him onto the scale by his shoulders, causing him to scream and cry even more. The nurse that was present during the incident told the medical assistant that getting his weight was not necessary as she wasn’t prescribing him anything. We told her that her actions were unacceptable and that the appointment was over, but she ignored us and proceeded to take my son’s temperature.

 

What We’ve Done:

 • Police Report Filed: We filed a police report the next day. The officer confirmed that the assistant’s actions were inappropriate but stated that no arrest was likely because there were no visible injuries. Three officers went to Midwest Express Clinic to “Investigate” She did not deny her actions but said that she was only trying to help us. The nurse (witness) was not interviewed.

 • Management Contacted: We spoke with the clinic’s manager, who was unaware of the situation. The doctor or nurse did not file an incident report, which suggests the clinic may have tried to cover it up.

 • Media Outreach: We’ve reached out to local news outlets like Fox News and NWI Times, who have expressed interest in covering the story. This petition is an effort to ensure this story is not overlooked and that the clinic is held accountable for their actions.

 • Contact with City Officials: We met with the Mayor of Hobart who expressed little concern and said there wasn’t much he could do which only made the situation more frustrating. He spoke with the Chief Of Police and had him to contact us.

 • Contact with State Officials and Advocacy Groups: We’ve reached out to Disability Rights Indiana and other organizations to raise awareness about the mistreatment of children with autism and other special needs in healthcare settings.

 • Facebook Censorship: After posting about this incident in the Portage 411 Facebook group, the post was reported as “Fake News” by an unknown group member despite receiving a lot of attention. This shows the need for more public awareness and change.

Why we’re Petitioning:

No child, especially one with special needs, should ever be subjected to physical aggression or mistreatment in a healthcare setting. The clinic’s failure to address this situation properly, along with their lack of accountability for the assistant’s actions, is deeply concerning. Although the nurse and doctor apologized for the medical assistant’s actions they failed to file an incident report. No apology from the medical assistant at all, only attitude and disrespect after the incident.

This petition is asking for:

 • A thorough investigation into this incident.

 • Consequences for the medical assistant’s actions, including termination and legal charges for battery.

 • Better policies and training for medical staff on how to handle children with autism and other developmental disabilities with care and respect.

 • Public acknowledgment of this incident from the clinic and an apology to my family.

 

This isn’t just about one incident. It’s about making sure that all children, especially those with special needs, are treated with respect and dignity in healthcare settings. We need your support to help bring justice to my family and prevent similar situations from happening to anyone else.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please sign this petition to hold Midwest Express Clinic accountable and demand that action is taken.

 

Sincerely,
Isabella & Kordell Williams