Our health care system is broken. Black women across the country are suffering and dying. >> An intimate moment of pain captured for the world to see is now sparking legislative change.>> Mercedes courage propelled me to introduce new legislation to protect all moms. >> Earlier this month, a black woman, Mercedes Wells, labored for 6 hours at Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital in Indiana before she was discharged without ever seeing a doctor. Minutes later, she gave birth in her car.The video prompted b ...

You've likely seen that now viral video of a black mother in pain at an Indiana hospital. It resonated with viewers and health care professionals who saw it. And as we reported yesterday, it sparked new legislation, the Wells Act, that aims to protect pregnant people who were in labor. The legislation is in response to images that show Mercedes Wells crying and in pain at Franciscan Health Crown Point. Wells says she was in labor for 6 hours and seen by a nurse, but she was ultimately discharged without eve ...