A patient in a vegetative state for more than 10 years has given birth to a child at an Arizona hospital. Police have launched a rape investigation and are investigating who may have gotten the woman pregnant by collecting DNA samples from hospital staff.
The incident took place at the Hacienda Clinic near Phoenix, the capital of Arizona. There, a woman who had been in a coma for about ten years after an accident gave birth to a boy on December 29. The child, who was born to the patient, was not breathing at first, but is now reported to be alive and under the care of doctors.
Hacienda Clinic, according to its website , provides palliative care – specialized services for terminally ill infants, children, adolescents and young adults in Arizona.
CBS reported, citing sources, that hospital staff did not know about the patient’s pregnancy. The clinic said it was “deeply concerned about what happened.” The source noted that the woman needed constant care and many employees had access to her room.
Attorney John Michaels, who represents the patient’s family, said relatives described her as “extremely vulnerable.” “The family is obviously outraged, traumatized and shocked that their daughter was abused and neglected at Hacienda,” he told NBC.
The relatives, he said, are not ready to make public statements themselves. The lawyer reported from their words that the newborn child will have “a loving family that will take care of him.”
Details about the injured patient, including her name, have not been released. It is known only that she was placed on life support after drowning. The patient is also reported to be a Native American from the San Carlos Apache tribe.
“I am deeply shocked and horrified by the way one of our members was treated,” said tribal Chairman Terry Rambler. “When your loved one is in palliative care, when they are at their most vulnerable and dependent on others, you trust their caregivers. Unfortunately, one of her caregivers could not be trusted and took advantage of her.”
Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are collecting DNA samples from men who work at the clinic. At a news conference Wednesday, a state police spokesman said he was unaware of any cases of people refusing to provide samples.
The hospital said it would do everything it could to ensure the police investigation yields results as quickly as possible. “We will continue to work with the Phoenix police and other investigative agencies to get to the bottom of this unprecedented story that has left us deeply shaken,” the hospital said.
The Arizona Department of Health Services said it had reviewed the hospital’s patient conditions and implemented enhanced security measures. In particular, Phoenix police said male staff members will now only enter female patients’ rooms if accompanied by women.
Shortly after the incident was reported, the CEO of the corporation that runs the Hacienda hospital in Arizona, Bill Timmons, resigned.
Gary Orman, the executive vice president of the board of directors of the same company, said that he would seek a full report on the incident. “We will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of each of our patients and our employees,” he promised.
