An investigation continues into the rape of the woman who is in a vegetative state, but delivered a baby in December.
PHOENIX – An Arizona woman in a vegetative state who was sexually assaulted and had a baby received a medical exam nearly nine months before giving birth, according to court documents.
The woman’s mother, who is her legal guardian, submitted an annual report as required by state law that included results of a physical done April 16 at a Phoenix long-term care facility where the 29-year-old patient lives.
The doctor who examined her found “no change” in her health, according to the form, and wrote that the exam was external only. Police said it appears that none of the facility’s staff members knew about the pregnancy until the Dec. 29 birth, a notion that has drawn skepticism.
But it’s possible there were no outward signs that would be noticed, especially by staffers who don’t work with pregnant patients, doctors say. The woman is described as having tubes to feed her and help her breathe.
While factors remain unknown, such as how far along she was, someone who is fed the same amount from a tube every day might not show any dramatic changes, like a swollen belly, said Dr. C. Kevin Huls, a clinical assistant professor and maternal-fetal medicine fellowship director at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix.
