Nurse arrested after comatose patient gives birth
Nathan Sutherland was one of the woman's caregivers at Hacienda HealthCare. Photo: AP
An American nurse has been charged with sexually assaulting a comatose patient who he allegedly impregnated while under his care.
Staff at Hacienda Healthcare clinic in Arizona were unaware the 29-year-old woman, who has been incapacitated since the age of three, was pregnant until she went into labour.
Phoenix police arrested nurse Nathan Sutherland, 36, on one charge of sexual assault and one charge of abusing a vulnerable adult, chief Jeri Williams said.
“We owed this arrest to the victim. We owed this arrest to the newest member of our community – that innocent baby,” Mr Williams said.
The victim gave birth on December 29. The child, a boy, is in the care of her family.
After the birth, police launched an investigation into sexual assault. The woman was unable to give consent to sex due to her vegetative state.
A court ordered Ms Sutherland to submit a DNA sample to police. It later found that his DNA positively matched with the child’s,
Police are also investigating whether Mr Sutherland has assaulted any other patients.
It is unclear whether he was an employee or contractor who worked at any other facilities.
Following Mr Sutherland’s arrest, Hacienda HealthCare revealed one doctor who had cared for the woman resigned. Another had been suspended.
The woman’s parents say their daughter is not comatose but carries an intellectual disability because of seizures in early childhood.
While she does not speak, she has some mobility in her limbs, head and neck. She also responds to sound and can make facial gestures.
A medical report describes her as having tubes to feed her and help her breathe.
A lawyer for the woman’s family, John Michaels, said they were aware of Mr Sutherland’s arrest but had no comment.
The patient’s family have described her as “a beloved daughter” with “significant intellectual disabilities” caused by seizures in childhood.
Mr Michaels, told local media: “She has feelings, likes to be read to, enjoys soft music and is capable of responding to people she is familiar with, especially family.”
-with agencies
