The Ongoing Mistreatment for Black Mothers at Medical Centers
A woman gave birth on Side of road 8 minutes after being Discharged from the hospital- While in Labor, Family Says. Dallas mother says hospital delayed daughter's care during labor in viral TikTok video. There’s been growing backlash and concern about how nursing and hospital staff treat Black women during childbirth in the U.S., particularly along issues of neglect, racism, and bias. These have been some of the related stories shared by Black expecting mothers in the past and still- in the very present.
Take the most recent Indiana roadside birth- A Black woman, Mercedes Wells, was discharged from Franciscan Health Crown Point Hospital in Indiana while in active labor. According to her family and social media posts, she was “treated so poorly … not 1 oz of empathy … by the nursing staff. Just 8 minutes after being sent home, she gave birth in the car, raising serious concerns about how hospital staff assessed her condition and whether her race played a role in decision-making. The hospital’s CEO said they are investigating. Dallas / Mesquite, Texas Incide, a TikTok video went viral showing a woman, Karrie Jones, in severe labor pain, doubled over in a wheelchair, while nursing staff allegedly prioritized paperwork over attending to her. Her mother, Kash Jones, claimed her daughter waited more than 30 minutes before being admitted — and then gave birth only 12 minutes later. The hospital responded that they are investigating the claims. With countless digital recordings existing. Why is the corrective action response directed to just investigating these incidents?
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights launched a review of Cedars-Sinai over whether Black pregnant patients receive lower standards of care than white patients.
The investigators have also raised concerns about “a pattern of inaction and/or neglect” in caring for Black mothers, particularly for complications like obstetric hemorrhage. The agency found that some medical staff had stereotyped beliefs — for instance, that Black patients hemorrhage differently or “don’t complain as much about pain.” In response, Cedars-Sinai says they are making changes but dispute some of the agency’s findings. Systemic Context & Broader Issues are at hand.
We can say with certainty, there are racial disparities in maternal care when it comes to Black mothers. According to KFF, discrimination and bias are significant contributors to the maternal health crisis. Black and Hispanic women report being ignored, refused help, or otherwise devalued by staff. Mistreatment and discrimination reports are growing at an alarming rate.
A CDC-linked report found that ~1 in 5 women report mistreatment during maternity care, and nearly 30% of Black and Hispanic mothers reported discrimination.
Some states (like California) have required hospitals to train perinatal staff on implicit bias. But coverage and enforcement are uneven: many hospitals haven’t completed the training. Calls for Self-Advocacy: Because of these patterns, some Black women are being explicitly encouraged to advocate for themselves during labor. For example, a Black woman in labor described having to repeatedly yell to get help when her bleeding started — she later said, “If I didn’t say anything … I would have sat there and bled out and died.” Professional Acknowledgment: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has warned that some providers may label Black women as “difficult” or ignore their pain, which reflects deeper, systemic bias.
Why This Is Getting More Attention Now? Plain and simple -Viral social media posts. These types of incidents (like the Mesquite TikTok video) generate public outrage and media coverage, which amplifies calls for accountability. Federal investigations, like the one at Cedars-Sinai, are raising the stakes for hospitals to change policies, staff training, and accountability. There is increasing pressure on hospitals and policymakers to implement stronger bias training, improve patient advocacy, and restructure care to reduce disparities. The U.S. already has a much higher maternal mortality rate compared to peer countries, and racial inequities (especially for Black women) are a central part of that crisis. Some hospitals may do training only for compliance, without real structural change. As some reporting suggests, bias training is not a cure-all without accountability measures. There is a lack of enforcement: even when hospitals are required to train staff on bias or inequitable care, not all are completing the training or being held responsible. Relying on individual patients (often Black women) to speak up in life-threatening situations places a heavy emotional and cognitive burden on people who are already in crisis.
Delays in care or neglect during labor can lead to severe complications, including hemorrhage, fetal distress, or other life-threatening conditions. Even when worse outcomes don’t happen, the trauma of being ignored, disrespected, or discounted during childbirth can have long-term psychological effects.
These patterns deepen distrust in health care systems among Black communities, which may discourage women from seeking timely care in future pregnancies. ++
