Maggots found on patient at same Arizona healthcare facility where an incapacitated woman was sexually assaulted
A healthcare facility in Arizona, which was in the news last year after a comatose woman was raped and impregnated, is in trouble again. Hacienda Healthcare was found to be inadequate of taking care of patients and has had its license revoked after a patient was found with maggots under his bandage.
David Leibowitz, a spokesperson for the facility, told CBS News that a 28-year-old male patient had "several" maggots under his gauze near his stoma incision. A stoma is the opening in the skin where a pouch for collecting feces is attached.
According to the statement released by the facility, the incident was reported and the patient was taken to the hospital. He added that there were no other problems with the patient and there were no other patients from the facility who had been "similarly impacted".
The Arizona Department of Health Services said late Friday that the move will give the state more oversight of the facility but will not force it to close. Chris Minnick told the news outlet in a statement, "Based on findings from a recent survey and an extremely disturbing incident involving inadequate patient care that was reported to and investigated by ADHS this week, the Department has determined strong and immediate action is necessary to further protect the Hacienda ICF-IID residents," the statement said.
Police officials in Arizona had launched a sexual assault investigation earlier last year after a comatose patient, in the facility gave birth in December 2018. Reports stated that the staff at Hacienda HealthCare had been giving the female patient round-the-clock care. The Native American woman, who had been in their care for 14 years was said to have been raped for many months, if not years, before the birth. 37-year-old Nathan Sutherland was accused and charged with the crime.
He pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of sexual assault and vulnerable-adult abuse in February. He is being held in a Maricopa County jail on a $500,000 cash-only bail. The CEO of the facility, Bill Timmons resigned after the incident along with a doctor. Another doctor from the facility was suspended.