The incapacitated woman who gave birth to a child after allegedly being raped by a care facility nurse was apparently “repeatedly” sexually assaulted, according to newly-filed court documents in the Arizona case.
As we’ve been reporting on this case for the last several months, new information continues to come to light against staffers at Phoenix-based Hacienda Health Care over the woman’s apparently horrific ordeal.
Related: Hacienda HealthCare CEO Has Over A DECADE Of Complaints!
Now, this week, People obtained a copy of newly-filed court documents from late Wednesday night that propose a new $45 million settlement to a civil lawsuit that relatives of the woman are preparing. In the court docs, it’s revealed that the family alleges the woman was “sexually assaulted repeatedly,” based on forensic evidence, and it’s “likely she had been pregnant before.”
Absolutely despicable.
Nathan Sutherland, 37 (pictured above, in a video taped jailhouse hearing) was arrested earlier this year and charged with sexual assault and vulnerable adult abuse. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.
His former employer, Hacienda Health Care, continues to come under fire in the newly-released court docs, with the victim’s family alleging that there were “at least 83 opportunities” for medical staff to properly diagnose her pregnancy from Sutherland — and the health care company misdiagnosed it Every. Single. Time. At one point, the company even prescribed laxatives for the “mass” in her stomach, according to the court docs.
Sensing something was up after months of a “swollen mass” in her abdomen with no resolution from the health care organization, the court filing further alleges that the victim’s family specifically asked that only female nurses care for the woman. However, they claim, at least two male nurses — including her alleged rapist — still tended to her while she was incapacitated.
Related: Hacienda HealthCare Is Closing — To Dodge Responsibility Here??
After the baby was born, then, the claim states that the victim was examined at the Maricopa County Medical Center, where officials there quickly determined the incapacitated woman had been “violated repeatedly.” Worse still, they contended that her pregnancy itself was a “repeat parous event,” meaning that she was likely pregnant before, too.
Thankfully, the baby is said to be healthy, and it is apparently in the custody of the victim’s family.
Still, that’s little condolence in what otherwise appears to be a complete, horrific failure on the part of the long-term care facility, mixed in with the dangerous and despicable alleged actions taken against her.
We can’t even imagine what the poor woman and her family must be going through as this case continues to make its way through the legal system. So, so sad.
[Image via Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office]
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