Woman says doctor lied about hospital policy

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A Lafayette mother-to-be said her doctor lied to her. Kaly Deel said she was told hospital policy at IU Health Arnett forces her to have her baby in Indianapolis.

The due date, May 15, for Kaly and her husband Gabe is not a problem. But the hospital location is.

She wants to give birth to her second child at IU Health Arnett. But when she tipped the scales at 353 pounds, she was told that wouldn't be an option.

She said that it was IU Health Arnett policy that if you weighed more than 350 pounds, "You had to go to the hospital in Indianapolis, (in) downtown Indy," she said.

She said she was not told that it was the doctor's decision, but Arnett policy. "That's what she said," Deel said.

But it didn't sound right to her. She said she was even heavier when she gave birth to her first child at Arnett four years ago.

"I've talked to several people and no one has heard of this," she added.
    
Deel said her sister, who also weighs more than 350 pounds, was given the same policy line by a different doctor before the sister gave birth in Indianapolis last fall.

Between her sister's bad experience there, Deel's worries about the long drive and the extra costs associated with multiple trips to Indianapolis, she wants to give birth closer to home.

"IU was very good to me with my first son," Deel said.

IU Health Arnett refused a News 18 request for an interview but said there is no policy in place specific to a patient's weight.

They released this statement:

"Patient safety is a top priority at Indiana University Health Arnett. Our highly skilled physicians always make decisions that are in the best interest of the patient and their safety. Because each patient has individual needs, decisions regarding their care are evaluated on a case-by-case basis."

But Deel said otherwise. "(The doctor) said it was policy that I had to go there. She did not say it was in the best interest of me or the baby."

Deel said if the doctor would have said it was in the best interest of her or her baby, "then I would have been OK and I would have gone with her decision."

Deel said unlike her first pregnancy when both high blood pressure and gestational diabetes were a concern, this time around, outside of her weight, there are no complications.

"So I just don't understand why they are singling us out," said Deel. "I'm hoping they'll have a different outlook on bigger people and not treat us differently than the other people."

News 18 tried to contact Deel's doctor. A spokesperson for the hospital said she was fully aware of the situation and unwilling to make further comment.