'The baby's turning blue!': Nurses panic in 911 call as vegetative patient gives birth in Arizona
Panicked care staff called for paramedics when it emerged that a patient they did not know was pregnant had given birth.
Saturday 12 January 2019 04:05, UK
Audio has been released from the 911 call made by distressed nurses after a female patient who had been in a vegetative state for years gave birth.
Panicked staff at the Arizona clinic called for police and paramedics on 29 December when it emerged that the woman had given birth to a healthy baby, with workers unaware that she had been pregnant.
In the five minute clip released by police on Friday, one of the nurses says: "The baby's turning blue!
"One of the patients just had a baby and we had no idea she was pregnant. The baby's turning blue and we need someone now! This is a complete surprise. We were not expecting this."
The operator repeatedly asks about the condition of the mother, to which the nurse replies: "Mum's doing well, looks like she's doing well, but we had no idea this patient was pregnant.
"We were not expecting this."
The clinic - run by Hacienda HealthCare near Phoenix - has described the birth as a "deeply disturbing incident" and chief executive Bill Timmons has resigned.
All male employees at the care facility have been ordered to provide DNA samples after investigating officers said the woman, 29, had been raped. No arrests have been made.
She had been in a vegetative state for 14 years following an incident in which she almost drowned.
The woman was a member of the San Carlos Apache tribe and chairman Terry Rambler said the community had been left "deeply shocked and horrified" by her treatment.
"When you have a loved one committed to palliative care, when they are most vulnerable and dependent upon others, you trust their caretakers," he said.
"Sadly, one of her caretakers was not to be trusted and took advantage of her. It is my hope that justice will be served."
San Carlos Apache Police Chief Alejandro Benally said Phoenix police "will do all they can to find the perpetrator" and his department will assist "in any way possible".
In a statement, Hacienda HealthCare board member Gary Orman said the facility "will accept nothing less than a full accounting of this absolutely horrifying situation".
According to a lawyer for a relative of the woman, the baby boy is healthy and "has been born into a loving family and will be well cared for".