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Original poster

Woman in vegetative state gives birth

139 replies

NotMyCircusMonkeys · 04/01/2019 19:49

Police in Phoenix are investigating after a woman who has been in a vegetative state for 10 YEARS gave birth.

I have no words... I feel so sorry for that poor woman, her family and the baby who will grow up effectively an orphan. How did no-one notice she was pregnant?! How does this happen in a supposedly civilised country??

www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/us/woman-pregnant-vegatative-state-birth.html

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 04/01/2019 22:58

That's another possibility Anchor.

crackerbaron · 04/01/2019 22:59

I knew someone who worked in a secure unit for extremely mentally ill people (institutionalised for decades, likely not going to be released) and they said sex between patients was a real issue. With consent obviously being a big issue given the circumstances. However I gather these patients were able to spend time together in some capacity.

I wonder if another patient who whilst not vegetative, could be extremely vulnerable themselves attacked her? That might explain the 'alleged' etc. Not minimising the fact it's a rape however

Obviously that scenario is still horrifying in terms of how this could have happened to such a vulnerable patient and the care they provide. The organisation should be shut down / investigated whatever the scenario though as it's appalling

Butchyrestingface · 04/01/2019 23:02

Is there any chance this was another patient; and not a carer?

That's what I thought of. Giving the DM a huge benefit of the doubt it doesn't deserve, I wondered whether the perpetrator was another patient (perhaps with learning disabilities) and that what the allusion to apparently raped meant.

Not that the victim would have been any less raped, but rather that the perpetrator wasn't criminally responsible. All highly speculative, of course.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 04/01/2019 23:03

Yes entirely possible it was another patient. It mentioned previous issues where a patient complained that staff were entering the shower room while they were in the shower/ no dignity/privacy so there are patients who are at least able to shower themselves which suggest a level of mobility.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 04/01/2019 23:05

The baby was only born on 29th of December so it’s still very early days in the investigation. I would imagine it will take time to gather all the information about who had access to her, and then get the relevant warrants to order DNA testing for all those people. That’s if they even need to. It may be much easier to solve than that.

ReaganSomerset · 04/01/2019 23:10

@TeaAddict235

I once read that women in comas can give birth because the body can do it involuntarily. I think it was in a hypnobirthing book I have.

CosmicCanary · 04/01/2019 23:13

Reagan
I would say i had no control over my body when i gave birth. It was involuntary muscle contractions all the way. My body decided to give birth and it did.

Yulebealrite · 04/01/2019 23:19

Will the baby be affected mentally by having no awareness of its mother in the womb? Thats supposed to be really important in development.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 04/01/2019 23:23

I would say there will be an impact yule, but a strong, healthy bond with a primary carer from as early as possible should help to counteract that.

ReaganSomerset · 04/01/2019 23:26

@Yulebealrite

It would have had some awareness. Heartbeat, digression sounds etc. I would have thought there would be an impact though. Poor baby.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 04/01/2019 23:27

Did no one notice this Lady was not having periods. Surely to God someone has to change their towels and underwear.

BedraggledBlitz · 04/01/2019 23:30

This is horrendous. Her family, if she has any, will now have a difficult choice won't they? Keep grandchild/niece etc or adopt.

From a more detached scientific perspective I am amazed at the conditions in which a baby can grow and be born.

CosmicCanary · 04/01/2019 23:52

From a more detached scientific perspective I am amazed at the conditions in which a baby can grow and be born.,

Really?

She has a womb and is provided with food/drink. As long as mum is alive and stable why wouldn't a baby?

MynameisJune · 04/01/2019 23:55

Fucking disgusting, vile creature who did this.

There’s the possibility it was family or friends. They would have unaccompanied access. If she is from a wealthy family it could explain the cover up too.

knittedmouse · 05/01/2019 01:42

I nurse people who are existing in these type of conditions and it beggars belief that anyone can rape someone in this way. It's absolutely inhuman and so cruel. The poor woman.

Often, disabled women don't have regular periods, so it's not unknown for menstruation to be infrequent and without a pattern. These patients can retain awareness and can certainly feel pain. Personally, I feel that it's cruel to keep people alive in these conditions. They are extremely vulnerable and can't even indicate when they're in pain. Their groans are often dismissed by disinterested staff. It's an absolutely horrendous way to live.

I hope they manage to identify the rapist and send it to jail. I expect the poor woman will continue to live in to old age in her own version of hell.

Human beings are unbelievably cruel.

lljkk · 05/01/2019 01:46

That warrant can be issued immediately since there's a flight risk for the culprit. Judges are on call for this kind of thing.

TeaAddict235 · 05/01/2019 07:09

Thanks @ReaganSomerset , it's incredible what the human body can do! Bless her heart though

BedraggledBlitz · 05/01/2019 08:29

@cosmic cos when pregnant you are told to eat well, get exercise, not sleep on one side, have regular checks, count kicks blah blah blah.

beanaseireann · 05/01/2019 16:29

Absolutely horrifying.
There are some inhuman people on this planet. They are a subhuman species.
I despair.

Brahumbug · 10/01/2019 08:03

Don't make repulsive generalisations.

You're as entitled to your opinion as anyone else but don't you dare tell me what to think

If you are making ridiculous generalizations that include my DH and son I will tell you every fucking time.

Soubriquet · 10/01/2019 08:29

Ah look at that

A woman is assaulted and gives birth due to that assault and someone says NAMALT Hmm

I have a son and a dh too yet I don’t feel the need to say it

RedForShort · 10/01/2019 09:12

NAMALT means men will continue to do want they want to women.

One of life's ironies isn't it. Men's wants are more important than women's safety; any discourse about this is shut down because men's feelings are far more important than women's safety.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 10/01/2019 09:18

Do you ever notice that NAMALT only appears when we’re discussing Male violence against women. You never hear it when discussing knife crime, or tax evasion or dangerous driving. I wonder why.

bobstersmum · 10/01/2019 09:33

I used to be a support worker and worked for an agency for a while, the jobs are surprisingly easy to get as there is always an urgent need for staff, you may not have a criminal record but that only means you haven't been caught yet. I was sent into privates homes, NHS and private hospitals, caring for all different kinds of vulnerable patients, if you were a rapist or pervert of some sort it wouldn't be hard to get access to these poor people, it's extremely worrying!