Abuse Probe Underway After Woman Gives Birth in Ariz. Nursing Home

A woman in a vegetative state has given birth at an Arizona nursing facility, prompting a sex abuse investigation, KPHO reports. The woman, who has been at the Hacienda HealthCare facility in Phoenix since she nearly drowned more than a decade ago, gave birth to a baby boy on Dec. 29. "None of the staff were aware that she was pregnant until she was pretty much giving birth," a source says, adding that facility staff were alerted to the birth by the victim’s moans. "There was a nurse that was there,” the source says, “and from what I've heard she's the one that delivered the baby." The baby is reportedly healthy.

In addition to an ongoing investigation by multiple agencies, the incident has prompted a change in protocol at the facility: Now, when a male staff member needs to enter the room of a female patient, a female staff member must accompany him. The source tells KPHO that the woman required constant care and many people went in and out of her room. A Hacienda HealthCare rep cited privacy laws and said that it could not comment on the case, adding that “our patients’ and clients’ health and safety is our No. 1 priority.” (Hospital admits abuse by pediatrician.)