Woman in Vegetative State Gives Birth in Nursing Home Following Presumed Sexual Assault

 Posted on January 11, 2019 in Sexual Abuse

News outlets across the country are reporting one of the most disturbing nursing home abuse stories in recent years. A woman who is in a vegetative state after an incident where she nearly drowned has given birth to a child. Individuals who are in vegetative states generally have severe brain damage and lack true awareness of their surroundings. Needless to say, there is no way that a woman in this condition could have consented to having sex and getting pregnant.

The Phoenix-area nursing home in which the incident occurred was completely unaware that the resident was even pregnant until she went into labor. This horrific example of nursing home sexual abuse is, tragically, not an isolated incident. Thousands of innocent nursing home residents suffer every year from nursing home abuse and neglect. If you or a loved one have suffered at the hands of nursing home or assisted living facility staff, you should know that there are steps you can take to recover compensation for damages and hold the perpetrators responsible.

Police Plan to Take DNA Samples from Nursing Home Staff

The Arizona nursing home in which the abuse occurred has been cooperating with authorities throughout the investigation. Police have taken DNA samples from the male employees at the nursing home which will then be compared to the DNA of the child in order to find his biological father. Detectives for the case also served the facility a search warrant to gather records and additional information. The 29-year-old victim who was impregnated is a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The tribe's chairman expressed his feelings about the incident saying, "When you have a loved one committed to palliative care, when they are most vulnerable and dependent upon others, you trust their caretakers. Sadly, one of her caretakers was not to be trusted and took advantage of her."

The family of the victim has not publicly announced if they will pursue legal action against the nursing home.

Speak with an Experienced Chicago Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered neglect or abuse while staying at a nursing home, assisted living facility, rehabilitation facility, or other long-term care institution, do not hesitate to reach out for help. The compassionate and highly qualified Illinois nursing home abuse injury attorneys at Schwartz Injury Law have the experience necessary to take on even the most complex nursing home abuse cases. Call us today at 312-535-4625 to schedule a cost-free initial consultation. 

Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/09/us/arizona-woman-vegetative-state-gives-birth/index.html

https://www.azfamily.com/news/investigations/hacienda_healthcare/hacienda-healthcare-ceo-resigns-after-vegetative-patient-gave-birth/article_c6153522-12d9-11e9-9393-7b72a86cc17e.html