A sexual abuse investigation has been launched by police in Arizona after a woman who has been in a vegetative state for more than a decade gave birth.
It is believed she was impregnated while receiving 24-hour care.
The woman’s condition is such that she would have been unable to communicate to staff that she was pregnant or that she had been assaulted.
A source at the Hacienda HealthCare facility in Phoenix, Arizona, told local TV station KPHO: “None of the staff were aware that she was pregnant until she was pretty much giving birth.”
They added: “There was a nurse that was there, and from what I’ve heard she’s the one that delivered the baby.”
The woman has been a patient at the centre since almost drowning 14 years ago – an incident which left her severely brain damaged.
Phoenix Police sergeant Tommy Thompson said “the matter is currently under investigation”.
Doug Ducey, Arizona State governor, called reports of the abuse “deeply troubling”.
His spokesperson said: “We have been informed of the situation that occurred at this healthcare facility and find the reports deeply troubling. The governor was briefed on these reports as soon as our office learned of them, and our state agencies immediately began taking every measure to protect patient safety.”
The Arizona Department of Health Services said it had initiated an investigation.
“During this time, the agency has required heightened safety measures be implemented at the facility including increased staff presence during patient interactions, increased monitoring of the patient care areas, and increased security measures with respect to visitors at the facility,” it said in a statement.
Among those measures are requiring male carers to have female chaperones when dealing with female patients, it added.
A spokeswoman for Hacienda HealthCare said it had “been in business for over 50 years and has an outstanding reputation providing high quality specialised care for our patients”.
The baby is said to have been born in good health and is doing well.
