Two doctors who cared for Hacienda victim no longer seeing patients
Jan 21, 2019, 3:18 PM | Updated: 3:37 pm
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — Two doctors responsible for the care of the woman who gave birth at Hacienda HealthCare in December are no longer seeing patients there, according to a statement from the long-term care facility.
Phoenix police have said the 29-year-old woman, who has been at the facility since she was 3, became pregnant after she was sexually assaulted there.
According to Hacienda HealthCare’s statement, one of the facility’s doctors resigned, while the other was suspended.
“Once again, we offer an apology and send our deepest sympathy to the client and her family,” the statement read.
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“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 San Carlos Apache Tribe, of which the woman is a member, as well as police have described the woman as being in a vegetative state, while the lawyer representing her family has said she is severely disabled but not vegetative.
A Hacienda HealthCare spokesman told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Sunday that the facility is unable to comment on the woman’s condition due to federal regulations.
The center launched an internal review into the incident led by former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley last week.
Phoenix Police is also investigating the incident as a sexual assault and took DNA swabs from male employees earlier this month.
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (the state’s Medicaid program) and the Arizona Department of Economic Security sent a letter to Hacienda HealthCare last week, demanding the facility hire a third-party manager to oversee operations by Jan. 23.
The center responded last week saying it would comply with the demands.
Last week, a patient with an intellectual disability accused two of the facility’s workers of yelling at her and hitting her on the head and arm.
Those employees have been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.
