Pregnant Woman Walks to Hospital in the Darkness Because Ambulance Is Too Expensive for Her

A pregnant woman and her partner were on their way to the hospital when their car ran out of gas. She was in labor but decided to walk the rest of the way because an ambulance was too expensive.

This month a viral video was uploaded onto TikTok by user @kelskiller. The brief clip has started a massive online debate about the American healthcare system, and people also had a lot to say about the woman's actions.

The woman could be seen as she walked along the road in the dark. Her partner was recording and asked her what they were doing. She took a breath before explaining what had led them to that point.

THE HEFTY PRICE TAG

The woman told viewers that their car ran out of gas half a mile from the hospital, and they chose to walk the rest of the way. Her justification was the hefty price tag attached to calling for an ambulance.

The woman said: "It costs $1000 to order an ambulance ... so we're just walking to the hospital." Toward the end of the clip, she is visibly out of breath and in pain. She also complains that her legs are soaking wet.

VIDEO QUICKLY WENT VIRAL

Her partner tried to reassure her by telling her that they were "almost there." This video quickly drew lots of attention and gained close to 7 million views. There was a myriad of responses.

Many questioned the couple's actions, and others highlighted the flaws of the healthcare system. One netizen wrote: "I think it's horrible that an ambulance ride is $1000 even when you're stranded and in labor."

ALTERNATIVE TO AN AMBULANCE

Another user suggested a clever alternative and said the woman didn't really need an ambulance, so she should have simply called an uber.

The TikToker replied to this comment and said: "Why didn't I think of that?" Someone quickly defended her actions and blamed it on her "pregnancy brain."

BLAMING THE FATHER

Some netizens responded to the video's caption, which stated that her partner "forgot to put gas in." People said she should reconsider her relationship with him. Others said it was their joint responsibility to have prepared for the baby's birth.

Many pointed out that neither the mother nor father were to blame. Instead, users called out the healthcare system that forced them to make this decision.

THEIR BABY IS HEALTHY

One netizen called the woman's predicament "a sad reflection on society." In America, a large majority of ambulances don't accept the patient's insurance, and even if they do, they don't always cover the entire bill.

Despite the debate, users were happy to hear that both mother and baby were fine. In a follow-up video, the mother told viewers that her daughter was healthy. She also thanked everyone for their support after her story went viral.