On 29th December 2018, caretakers at a long-term care facility were shocked when a woman who has been in a vegetative state for at least 10 years went into labour and delivered a baby boy.
According to The Guardian, the incident happened in Arizona in the United States. It also appears that caretakers were completely unaware of her pregnancy until she began to give birth.
Source: Vox
The woman’s baby also did not appear to be breathing when police were called into the facility. According to the Daily Mail, the newborn was reported to be in distress and nearly died shortly after the birth. However, both mother and child are now recovering in hospital, according to BBC News.
Meanwhile, the woman’s family has expressed outrage over the incident, stating they were traumatised by the alleged abuse and neglect that took place at a facility where she was supposed to be cared for. As for the child, he will be taken in by the victim’s family. Their attorney told the press,
“The family would like me to convey that the baby boy has been born into a loving family and will be well cared for.”
Source: BBC News
According to AP News, police are now investigating this as sexual assault and are in the midst of collecting DNA samples from all of the facility’s male employees. A police spokesman was quoted by the international news portal as saying,
“She was not in a position to give consent to any of this. So if anyone can understand that, this was a helpless victim who was sexually assaulted.”
Let’s hope the authorities catch the perpetrator so that justice can be served. Meanwhile, let’s hope stricter measures are taken to ensure that vulnerable groups like those under palliative care are better protected from such heinous acts.
Also read: 25yo Solo Traveller on Round-the-World Trip Gets Killed & Raped in First Country She Visited
