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Thread: A disabled woman in vegetative state for a decade gives birth prompting abuse investigation

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    A disabled woman in vegetative state for a decade gives birth prompting abuse investigation

    https://ktla.com/2019/01/04/arizona-...investigation/


    . The Phoenix Police Department is investigating possible sex abuse at a nursing facility after a female patient recently became pregnant and gave birth.

    Sources tell Phoenix television station KPHO/KTVK that the alleged victim has been a patient at the Hacienda HealthCare facility, which is near 16th Street and South Mountain Avenue, for at least a decade after a near-drowning incident left her in a vegetative state. That woman 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 familiar with the situation told the station.

    When asked how personnel found out she was in labor, the source responded, ?From what I?ve been told she was moaning. And they didn?t know what was wrong with her.?

    A nurse who was there apparently delivered the baby, according to the source, adding the infant was born healthy and alive.

    The patient required around the clock care and would not have been able to convey she was pregnant. Many would have been able to access her room, the source said.

    The facility changed protocol this week, she added, telling the station a male staff member needs to bring a female employee with them to enter a woman?s room.

    Investigators from multiple agencies are saying next to nothing about the case, but the station reported that at some point last spring or summer, someone sexually assaulted a woman who was in a persistent vegetative state, and she became pregnant.

    Hacienda HealthCare spokeswoman Nancy Salmon released the following statement after KPHO/KTVK asked about the case.

    ?Hacienda Healthcare has been in business in the valley for over 50 years, and has an outstanding reputation providing high quality specialized care for our patients. As a Healthcare provider, we cannot comment on any patient due to Federal and State privacy laws. Additionally, we cannot comment on any ongoing investigations. We can say that our patients and clients health and safety is our #1 priority and that we always cooperate, when asked by any agency, in an open and transparent way.?

    The Arizona Department of Health Services also released a statement.

    ?We are aware of this situation and are actively working with local law enforcement in their criminal investigation. Upon learning of the allegation, Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) immediately initiated an onsite complaint investigation to ensure the health and safety of the patients and ensure the facility is in compliance with all state laws and regulations. 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.?


    The Arizona Department of Economic Security released this statement.

    ?The Department has been made aware of these allegations and we continue to work fully with the Phoenix Police Department in their ongoing investigation. Upon hearing of these allegations, we immediately dispatched a team to conduct health and safety checks on all members residing at this health care facility, which has been completed. We will continue to work to ensure the safety of all our members.?

    Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said ?the matter is currently under investigation.?

    Founded as Hacienda de Los Angeles in 1967, Hacienda HealthCare describes itself on its website as ?the leading provider of specialized medical care and social services for Arizona?s infants, children and young adults who are medically fragile or chronically ill, including those with developmental disabilities.?

    The organization says it offers dozens of programs and services through several nonprofit entities under its umbrella.

    According to its website, Hacienda HealthCare serves more than 2,500 people throughout Arizona each year.

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    Senior Member Queena's Avatar
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    Sick. Sick. Sick.

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    Cousin Greg Angiebla's Avatar
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    How did the staff not know she was pregnant? I assume she was sponge bathed and turned over so she wouldn’t get bed sores.

    "The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man" -Charles Darwin

    Quote Originally Posted by bowieluva View Post
    Chelsea, if you are a ghost and reading mds, I command you to walk into the light.

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    Senior Member blighted star's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Angiebla View Post
    How did the staff not know she was pregnant? I assume she was sponge bathed and turned over so she wouldn’t get bed sores.
    Exactly. I find it really difficult to believe they didn't notice in the final weeks at least. Which makes me wonder what kind of care she was getting in general - was she even being bathed regularly?

    In one of the fb conversations on this, someone said this particular care agency has faced a sexual abuse investigation in the past. I haven't gone digging to find out if it's true yet. But if it is, wtf kind of operation are they running?

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    Senior Member SuchAClassicGirl's Avatar
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    While expensive, they need to test the DNA of all male staff that had contact with her within the time frame she must have become pregnant. What a Maury show that would be!
    Quote Originally Posted by blighted star
    I was about to be annoyed that this thread was still active, but I see now it's morphed into offers of sex for chilli confectionary, so carry on guys :)

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    Senior Member Trahnse's Avatar
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    Perhaps because it shouldn't have been possible, no one thought pregnancy? Maybe she didn't show? They likely don't pay their staff enough to give a shit. I know I worked with plenty of CNAs that would half ass as much as possible so they could spend their shift hiding in the linen closet on their phone.

    Idk. I know it's unlikely, but I hope they catch the asshole who did it. But it could be any man that walked in that building. I know of a nursing home rape that was perpetrated by another resident's visitor.

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    Cousin Greg Angiebla's Avatar
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    I can’t believe it was a nurse that did it. I thought for sure it was a visitor.

    "The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man" -Charles Darwin

    Quote Originally Posted by bowieluva View Post
    Chelsea, if you are a ghost and reading mds, I command you to walk into the light.

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    Senior Member of_corpse_not's Avatar
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    How was staff not aware her periods had stopped? You have to chart that shit

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    https://newschannel9.com/news/nation...2019-154416501

    PHOENIX (AP) — A nurse who was looking after an incapacitated woman at a long-term health care facility has been charged with raping her, weeks after she stunned her caregivers and family by giving birth to a baby boy, Phoenix police said Wednesday.


    Investigators arrested 36-year-old Nathan Sutherland, a licensed practical nurse, on suspicion of one count of sexual assault and one count of vulnerable adult abuse, Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said.

    The surprise birth late last month triggered reviews by state agencies and highlighted safety concerns for patients who are severely disabled or incapacitated. It also prompted authorities to test the DNA of all the men who worked at the Hacienda HealthCare facility.

    Sutherland submitted his DNA sample under court order Tuesday and the results came back a few hours later, showing he was a match to the baby. He declined to speak with police and invoked his Fifth Amendment rights, Thompson said. A message left at a phone number listed for Sutherland was not immediately returned.

    Hacienda officials fired Sutherland on Wednesday after learning of his arrest. The company said it was "troubled beyond words." Sutherland had passed an extensive background check.

    "Once again, we offer an apology and send our deepest sympathies to the client and her family, to the community and to our agency partners at every level," Hacienda said in a statement.
    The 29-year-old victim has been in long-term care since the age of 3 and gave birth at the facility on Dec. 29. Employees said they had no idea she was pregnant. As her guardian, the woman's mother was required to submit an annual report to the court that included results of a medical exam.

    The case has prompted the departure or discipline of key figures at Hacienda HealthCare, including the CEO. The provider on Sunday announced that one doctor who had cared for the woman resigned and another had been suspended.

    Earlier stories had described the patient as being comatose or in a vegetative state. But her parents released a statement on Tuesday disputing that characterization. They described her instead as intellectually disabled because of seizures in early childhood. While she doesn't speak, she has some mobility in her limbs, head and neck. She also responds to sound and can make facial gestures.

    The family's attorney, John Micheaels, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

    Thompson said he believes the baby has since been released from the hospital. The woman's family has said they will care for him.

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    Moderator Bewitchingstorm's Avatar
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    I checked his licensure and he is a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), which essentially means he is a nursing assistant. I take offense to him being called a nurse.

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    Moderator Bewitchingstorm's Avatar
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    I neglected to mention he does/did hold a multi-state licensure, which means he legally could have worked in 28 other states including Arizona.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bewitchingstorm View Post
    I checked his licensure and he is a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), which essentially means he is a nursing assistant. I take offense to him being called a nurse.
    I get what you're saying and totally agree with you. It pisses me off when people try to pass themselves off (or media does) as something they are not licensed for, especially when you have made all the sacrifices to actually get that licensure. I run into that all the time in the accounting world, where people try to say they are the same as an accountant or CPA because they have been book keeping for a long time.

    I had read that he was an RN, so I was just going with that. As you said, LPN is not even in the same ballpark as an RN or BSN.

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    http://www.fox32chicago.com/facebook...-other-victims

    Now a Similar story is coming out in Virginia

    SPRINGFIELD, Va. (FOX 5 DC) - A 60-year-old Fairfax County man has been charged after officials say he raped and impregnated a mentally incapacitated woman being cared for at the rehabilitation center where he worked.

    Fairfax County police say Bernard Betts-King worked as a behavioral specialist at the MVLE Community Center in Springfield, a rehabilitation center where he allegedly raped a patient at the facility in early 2018 who became pregnant with his child.

    Captain Thea Pirnat with Fairfax County Police Major Crimes said Betts-King used his position of trust to target and rape a 33-year-old mentally incapacitated woman under his care.

    photo
    "A family member reported it to us after they took the victim to the doctor and it was learned at that time that she was pregnant. She is a vulnerable adult, she is incapable of giving consent," said Captain Pirnat.

    After the victim gave birth, investigators say they used DNA evidence to match the child with Betts-King.

    "We were able to through our investigation look at who had access to this individual. We were eventually able to link it to the arrested subject," said Captain Pirnat.

    Police say there’s a second mentally disabled woman who worked with Betts-King at MVLE who also became pregnant. Investigators are now waiting on DNA evidence in that case.

    "We are actually working a second case right now that we have learned there are commonalities. We believe its going to be linked to him and we are doing DNA processing in that particular case," said Pirnat.

    "Same facility, same circumstances. She is a vulnerable adult she is not able to give consent to some cognitive impairment issues and that’s what our concern is," she said.

    Police tell FOX 5 Betts-King had no prior criminal record of this nature to fail any employment background checks.

    And up until his arrest, officials say he was still working with vulnerable adults at another facility, Community Living Alternatives in Fairfax.

    Investigators worry more victims could be out there.

    "This is an extremely sad case. We are concerned that this is potentially a predator that was targeting vulnerable adults so we are asking any individuals that had family members potentially in his control for limited amounts of time," Pirnat said.

    "If they notice behavioral changes, any medical changes with their family members to come forward so we can potentially investigate if theres a crime there," she said.

    Betts-King appeared in court Tuesday morning and is currently being held without bond at the Adult Detention Center.

    Officials say his preliminary hearing is set for March 26.

    Detectives are asking for anyone with information to contact them at (703) 246-7800.

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    Senior Member catastrophe's Avatar
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    And then it gets worse-?

    Just horrible.

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    Senior Member Non_Saepe's Avatar
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    Jesus fucking Christ shut that god damn place down already.

    I can't believe that idiot pleaded not guilty. THEY FOUND YOUR DNA YOU RAPIST PIECE OF SHIT.

    I'd be interested to see some undercover reporting on assisted living facilities. They all seem to suck and have poor regulating.

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    Junior Member Jerkface!'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Non_Saepe View Post
    Jesus fucking Christ shut that god damn place down already.
    Pretty sure that place shut down a while ago.
    I'll start being nicer when you start being smarter!

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    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...woman-n1271031

    Judge OKs $15M settlement over rape of incapacitated woman

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    Senior Member jennafyre's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by raisedbywolves View Post
    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...woman-n1271031

    Judge OKs $15M settlement over rape of incapacitated woman
    This whole thing is just so sickening. Glad the rapist is dead. I wonder how many times he violated this poor girl, and likely many others in his care.

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    What do you care? Boston Babe 73's Avatar
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    Honestly, if that were me I'd be pissed that my family didn't just give me the dirt nap. WHAT KIND OF LIFE IS THAT?! It must be torture being trapped in a body that doesn't work anymore and being kept around like some family keepsake sitting on a shelf collecting dust. I don't even want to go in to whether or not she was conscious enough to realize she was getting raped with no way to fight back.

    Let her go, already. She's not coming back.
    Quote Originally Posted by Nic B View Post
    That is too pretty to be shoved up an ass.
    Quote Originally Posted by Nic B View Post
    You can take those Fleets and shove them up your ass



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    Senior Citizen Nomad's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boston Babe 73 View Post
    Honestly, if that were me I'd be pissed that my family didn't just give me the dirt nap. WHAT KIND OF LIFE IS THAT?! It must be torture being trapped in a body that doesn't work anymore and being kept around like some family keepsake sitting on a shelf collecting dust. I don't even want to go in to whether or not she was conscious enough to realize she was getting raped with no way to fight back.

    Let her go, already. She's not coming back.
    It just feels so selfish to keep someone alive like that. I would never want that for myself, and wouldn't want it for anyone else. Let go.
    "A vagabond dreamer, a rhymer and singer of songs
    Singing to no one and nowhere to really belong." - Waylon Jennings

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    Moderator Bewitchingstorm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nomad View Post
    It just feels so selfish to keep someone alive like that. I would never want that for myself, and wouldn't want it for anyone else. Let go.
    This is exactly why it is important to have Advanced Directives made.

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    Cousin Greg Angiebla's Avatar
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    I need to get one of those made. This is worst nightmare territory.

    I dont see any update as to how the baby is doing? Did her parents take them?

    "The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man" -Charles Darwin

    Quote Originally Posted by bowieluva View Post
    Chelsea, if you are a ghost and reading mds, I command you to walk into the light.

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    Senior Member jennafyre's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Angiebla View Post
    I need to get one of those made. This is worst nightmare territory.

    I dont see any update as to how the baby is doing? Did her parents take them?
    Yep. The baby was a boy and her parents are raising him.

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    What do you care? Boston Babe 73's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by raisedbywolves View Post
    So this makes me think it's not exactly a vegetative state.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...10-ye-rcna7484


    Arizona nurse who sexually assaulted incapacitated patient sentenced to 10 years
    Well, just because you can move some limbs around doesn't mean that you're not vegetative. Her brain likely has enough capability to still have some muscle function, but nothing else going on upstairs.
    Quote Originally Posted by Nic B View Post
    That is too pretty to be shoved up an ass.
    Quote Originally Posted by Nic B View Post
    You can take those Fleets and shove them up your ass



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    Senior Member KimTisha's Avatar
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    This was my worst nightmare for my sister, who spent seven years in a nursing home in pretty much the same state this victim was in. She could open her eyes and move her head and arms a little. She couldn't talk, walk, dress, or feed herself. She is one of two reasons we have advance directives.

    Shortly after Sis got to the nursing home, my BIL (who hired people to care for her 12 hours a day/7 days a week) installed a hidden-camera clock radio in her room. He found out that male attendants were coming into my sister's room and sleeping on her couch at night. When he complained, they made him remove the camera citing "privacy" reasons. I understand the privacy issues they were referring to, but I was livid when he didn't remove her from the facility.

    As for "letting go," it's not as easy as you think - and I'm not talking about the emotional aspect of it. Nothing in the "Right to Die" World is black and white, there are a million variables. Every state has different laws concerning end of life; some allow assisted suicide and euthanasia, but the patient must be in control of their faculties at the time of death. That doesn't help people who suddenly find themselves in a vegetative state. For hassle-free, unquestioned, legal euthanasia, there's always hospice. Their licensed and certified Angels of Death will give your loved one morphine every 30 minutes until they're dead. Not a bad way to go.

    I always thought Advance Directives were ironclad, but found out differently as my father lay dying. Some states don't bat an eye at passive euthanasia, and others will make you fight for it. Mr. Tisha's brother was caught in a bizarre limbo between life and death last summer, when his pacemaker was "keeping him alive" against his expressed and well-documented wishes. It took lawyers, not an advanced directive, to get it turned off.

    As for this victim, there wasn't even a mechanism for the family of this child to legally "let go" of her 30 years ago. She was put in that nursing home 14 years before Terri Schiavo's husband petitioned the courts to remove her feeding tube. It would have been considered outright murder to "let her go." Thankfully, times are changing.

    We had to make the decision to discontinue our 34yo daughter's life support and I have to say, no matter the situation, it defies every rule of parenthood and goes against every fiber of your being as a parent. It's unnatural. "Shall we just let her die?" isn't on the list of decisions you ever imagine you will have to make for your child. It is life-changing and devastating.
    Last edited by KimTisha; 02-05-2022 at 04:16 PM.
    You are talking to a woman who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom and chuckled at catastrophe.
    ...Collector of Chairs. Reader of Books. Hater of Nutmeg...

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