HONOLULU, March 23 (UPI) -- Officials at Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Honolulu have confirmed one of the hospital's patients was visited by a horse this month.
An unidentified hospital spokesman said the patient's son brought the horse in and even posed for pictures with it and an off-duty nurse, Honolulu's KITV reported Sunday.
"He proceeded to take the horse up the elevator up to the nursing floor where he was met by security and our nurse supervisor," the hospital official said.
The man reportedly thought the horse belonged to his father, but later learned he had been mistaken.
While the animal was escorted out of the building without incident, the spokesman said the impromptu visit violated hospital policy and could have jeopardized patients' health.
"We do have a pet visitation policy, but it does not include a horse," he told KITV.
"Although it sounds funny, we don't want to compromise our visitor and our patient healthcare."
The hospital took no disciplinary action, but a health department inquiry in under way regarding any wrongdoing.
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