Police investigations have been launched at Hacienda HealthCare in Phoenix, Arizona after a horrifying incident wherein a woman in a vegetative state gave birth last month inside the nursing home. According to Rolling Stone, “the unidentified 29-year-old patient had been raped several times, and the staff had no idea she was pregnant until she went into labor and gave birth to a healthy baby boy on December 29th.” One source said: “From what I’ve been told, she was moaning. And they didn’t know what was wrong with her.”
The facility is now facing backlash from advocates for people with disabilities and the community at large. Following this news, police demanded DNA from the male care staff and others who may have had contact with the woman. The facility’s CEO, Bill Timmons also recently resigned.
It turns out, the facility was facing another criminal investigation prior this incident. The Arizona Republic reported that Hacienda HealthCare allegedly billed the state more than $4M for bogus 2014 charges for wages, transportation, housekeeping, maintenance and supplies. The 2016 criminal case was dropped a year later and no charges were filed, but according to The Guardian, “a court battle is continuing in an effort to force Hacienda to turn over records.”
She’s been identified as a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and had reportedly been in residence at the nursing home for at least 10 years following a near-drowning incident. Her family have said in a statement through their attorney that they will care for the infant boy. They have also asked for privacy.
[The Guardian and Refinery29]
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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