Healthcare CEO quits after comatose patient has baby

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The head of a nursing home corporation has resigned after a patient who was in a vegetative state for nearly 10 years gave birth, the company confirmed Tuesday.

The Hacienda Board of Directors unanimously accepted Bill Timmons' resignation, the company said in a statement.

Authorities have launched an investigation into possible sexual abuse after an unnamed patient in a long-term coma at Hacienda Healthcare in the state of Arizona gave birth late last month.

Hacienda "will accept nothing less than a full accounting of this absolutely horrifying situation, an unprecedented case that has devastated everyone involved, from the victim and her family to Hacienda staff at every level of our organization," Hacienda board member Gary Orman said in a statement.

"We will continue to cooperate with Phoenix Police and the investigating agencies at all levels in every way possible," he added.

The unidentified woman had been in a vegetative state since she nearly drowned nearly a decade ago.

Caregivers were unaware she was pregnant until she started giving birth, according to local media.

"From what I’ve been told, she was moaning," an unidentified source told Phoenix CBS affiliate KPHO. "And they didn’t know what was wrong with her."

"None of the staff were aware that she was pregnant until she was pretty much giving birth," the individual added.

The baby is reportedly alive and healthy.