A lawyer for the family of an incapacitated Arizona woman who gave birth in a long-term care facility revealed she is disabled, but not comatose as previously reported.
The Arizona Republic reported Friday that attorney John Micheaels said the 29-year-old patient has 'significant intellectual disabilities' and does not speak but has some ability to move, responds to sounds and is able to make facial gestures.
Phoenix police have said the Native American, who has been incapacitated since age three, was sexually assaulted and delivered a baby last month at Hacienda HealthCare in Phoenix, Arizona.
In the wake of the scandal, two doctors at Hacienda are no longer treating patients.
Police have said the 29-year-old Native American woman, who has been incapacitated since age three after a near-drowning, was sexually assaulted and gave birth last month at Hacienda HealthCare in Phoenix.
A January 8 statement by San Carlos Apache Tribe officials said the woman, a tribal member, gave birth while in a coma.
Hacienda HealthCare in Phoenix where a 29-year-old woman gave birth despite being in a vegetative state for more than a decade
News media outlets have reported that the woman, who has not been publicly identified, was in a vegetative state at the facility where she spent many years.
'The important thing here is that contrary to what's been reported, she is a person, albeit with significant intellectual disabilities. She has feelings and is capable of responding to people she is familiar with, especially family,' Micheaels told the newspaper.
He responded to a request Saturday by The Associated Press for comment by saying in an email that the information reported in the Republic is correct. He did not comment further.
On Monday, Hacienda HealthCare revealed in a statement that one doctor at the facility has resigned and a second has been suspended.
Attorney John Micheaels is acting for the family of a woman who gave birth while in a vegetative state
A spokesman for the firm said in a statement: 'Once again, we offer an apology and send our deepest sympathy to the client and her family.
'Hacienda intends to do everything possible to restore its credibility in the eyes of our patients, families, the community and our agency partners at every level.'
The woman gave birth to a baby boy on December 29 as staff at Hacienda HealthCare frantically called 911 for assistance, telling an operator that they had not known the 112-pound patient was pregnant.
Police investigators have been collecting DNA samples from male employees at the facility and any other men who could have had contact with the woman. State regulatory officials have also launched investigations.
The victim and the newborn have reportedly been recovering at a hospital, but no information has been released about their conditions.
The woman's guardian, her mother, described her in a May 29 annual guardian report filed in court as 'an incapacitated adult.' An attached doctor's report said the woman has a brain disorder, a form of retardation, recurrent pneumonia, paralysis of the limbs, seizure disorder and other conditions.
Hacienda spokesman David Leibowitz told the AP on Saturday that patient privacy laws precluded him from discussing the woman's condition.
On Friday, Hacienda announced that another female patient had alleged physical abuse by staff members.
Hacienda officials said in a news release that the patient accused a registered nurse and a certified caregiver, both women, of yelling at her and hitting her head and arm.
Hacienda officials said the patient showed no signs of injury or abuse and that the two workers had no history of complaints and denied the allegations. They were placed on administrative leave during an investigation.
Police say they were informed about the complaint but weren't able to corroborate anything.
The revelation that an incapacitated woman was raped inside a
