Authorities in Arizona have launched an investigation after a woman who has been in a coma for over a decade gave birth to a baby.

The woman, a patient at Hacienda Healthcare in Phoenix, reportedly went into labour and had a baby boy on 29 December. Staff at the private health facility were not aware that she was pregnant and were initially surprised when she began moaning during the beginning of her labour, according to Reuters. The woman was injured in a drowning incident over ten years ago and has been in a vegetative state since. Police in Phoenix are investigating reports of sexual assault, they confirmed. The news has been described as "deeply troubling" by a representative for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. Hacienda Healthcare is cooperating fully with the police investigation, spokesperson David Leibowitz told the media. It is "already conducting a comprehensive internal review of our processes, protocols, and people to ensure that every single Hacienda resident is as safe and well cared for as possible." He refused to say whether the hospital would subject its male staff members to DNA tests to help identify a suspect. Hacienda describes itself as Arizona's "leading provider of specialised health care services for medically fragile and chronically ill infants, children, teens, and young adults as well as those with intellectual and developmental disabilities."