Hacienda Healthcare is denying allegations that it improperly allowed a male nurse to care for a patient in a vegetative state who gave birth at its Phoenix-based facility in December, reports NBC affiliate 12 News.
The patient's family filed a notice of claim against the state of Arizona last week, claiming they had repeatedly requested the facility employ a female-only team to care for the 29-year-old woman. The notice of claim argues that letting former Hacienda nurse Nathan Sutherland provide one-on-one care for the woman violated the family's requests. Mr. Sutherland was arrested in January and charged with rape and assault after DNA evidence matched him to the woman's baby.
The notice of claim also accuses the state of Arizona of aiding the alleged crimes since it was responsible for funding and regulating Hacienda.
The healthcare organization is defending its staffing decisions, saying Mr. Sutherland passed his background check before he was hired and had all necessary accreditations. In addition, Hacienda spokesperson David Leibowitz said the family's request for female staff members, documented on a 2017 Individual Support Plan form, applied to caretakers — not physicians or nurses.