A Pregnant Teenager Died After Trying to Get Care in Three Visits to Texas Emergency Rooms

On the morning of October 29, 2023, Candace Fails desperately sought help for her 18-year-old pregnant daughter, Nevaeh Crain, who was severely ill and in need of urgent care. Crain was visibly deteriorating: too weak to walk, feverish, and bleeding. The day that was supposed to be her baby shower turned into a frantic series of hospital visits. Within twelve hours, Crain had been to two emergency rooms, each time returning home in worse condition. Despite her evident suffering and a diagnosis of sepsis at one hospital, doctors assured her she was stable and discharged her, a decision that would later prove fatal. Crain’s third hospital visit ended in tragedy. She arrived in critical condition, with her organs starting to fail. By the time medical professionals confirmed that her fetus had died, Crain was beyond saving. Hours later, she died, leaving her family devastated and questioning the healthcare system that failed her.

A Heartbreaking Loss Amid a Chaotic System

Fails, who expected Crain to receive thorough medical care, was left grieving the loss of her daughter just days before her 20th birthday. In states like Texas, where abortion restrictions have caused confusion and fear among healthcare providers, Crain’s case illustrates the severe impacts on pregnant women needing emergency care. Texas’ abortion laws discourage interventions that could end a fetal heartbeat, even in life-threatening situations. This legal environment has created hesitancy among healthcare workers, who fear potential legal consequences. For many, the stakes are high: prison sentences of up to 99 years. Doctors and healthcare workers are caught in an ethical and legal bind, often delaying or avoiding critical interventions out of fear. In Crain’s case, she was subjected to additional tests to confirm fetal demise rather than immediate life-saving care, consuming valuable time that could have made a difference in her survival.

Medical Delays Rooted in Legal Uncertainties

At the second hospital, despite her signs of sepsis—a life-threatening condition—Crain was discharged. Physicians involved in her care didn’t respond to inquiries, but ProPublica’s investigation revealed potential missed warnings that worsened her condition. Legal experts and doctors agree that abortion restrictions have created a harmful climate, leaving patients like Crain in limbo. In Texas, healthcare providers often engage in prolonged documentation to protect against prosecution, creating costly delays that compound patient risks. The federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), designed to protect those needing life-saving care, faces challenges from Texas authorities. While federal law demands that emergency rooms stabilize patients, Texas argues that its abortion restrictions supersede these mandates, making providers reluctant to offer necessary care.

A Larger Issue in States with Abortion Restrictions

Crain’s tragic death sheds light on the broader implications of Texas’ restrictive abortion policies. Healthcare professionals describe cases where pregnant patients are left questioning whether medical decisions prioritize their health or simply avoid legal risks. This tragic case underscores an urgent need to align healthcare protocols with emergency standards, ensuring that patient welfare is the priority.

Crain’s story serves as a haunting reminder of the lives at risk when legal policies impede medical treatment. For families like hers, the cost is unmeasurable, as they are left to mourn a loved one lost amid systemic failure.