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Sex-abuse probe after long-term coma victim gives birth

An Arizona woman in a vegetative state has given birth, prompting a police investigation of sexual abuse at the facillity where she has been comatose for at least a decade..

Workers at the Hacienda HealthCare facility in Phoenix became alarmed on December 29 when the unnamed woman, who suffered permanent brain damage in a near-drowning incident, was heard moaning and in evident distress.

A nurse who came to investigate found the baby’s head starting to emerge. It is believed the infant was delivered without complications and is in good health.

“None of the staff were aware that she was pregnant until she was pretty much giving birth,” Associated Press quoted a source as saying.

Hacienda said it was co-operating with police and reviewing its security protocols after becoming aware of a “deeply disturbing” incident and “an unprecedented matter”.

A Phoenix Police Department spokesman confirmed the “matter is under investigation”.

Hacienda’s website said it serves infants, children and young adults who are “medically fragile” or have developmental disabilities.

Governor Doug Ducey’s office said he was briefed on the “deeply troubling” reports as soon as the office learned of them and that state agencies “immediately began taking every measure to protect patient safety”

– with AAP

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