‘Deceased’ child revives in morgue, setting off chain of recovery for all involved

Details are emerging in the extraordinary case of a U.S. toddler who was found alive in a hospital morgue five or six hours after an ER doctor declared the child dead by drowning. 

The headline-making turn of events occurred Super Bowl Sunday in February. It began when guests of the Arizona watch party discovered the 18-month-old unattended and floating face-down in the host family’s swimming pool.

Last week local officials released 911 audio recordings and police reports, and the Maricopa County (Arizona) Attorney’s Office said it is still reviewing a recommendation by the Gilbert, Ariz., police department to arrest the parents for felony child abuse. 

According to numerous accounts, the mother and father of young Vincent Fiordilino admitted to using marijuana during their party.

One of the aspects investigators are looking into is the possibility the parents’ drug use contributed to their failure to properly supervise the child. 

Fortunately, as of July 3, the child was reportedly continuing rehab therapy after being discharged from Phoenix Children’s Hospital, to which he had been airlifted after the discovery in the initial hospital’s morgue. 

Physician feeling heat 

Meanwhile the ER doctor who erroneously declared the child dead is coming under fire.

Numerous news outlets are surmising the physician is Aryan Toosi, DO, an emergency medicine specialist at Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. 

That’s the hospital at which the declaration of death and subsequent morgue awakening occurred. 

Quoting a police report from February, NBC News reports that when Toosi was questioned about his decision to “pronounce the boy dead while the child was still gasping for air,” the doctor allegedly “pulled rank.”

“Please do your thing and let me do my thing,” Toosi is quoted as saying in the police report. “I went to medical school for a reason.”

The network says Toosi referred a reporter seeking quotes to a lawyer.

In a statement to NBC News July 3, the lawyer cited the police report and the potential case against the child’s parents.

“Because of this, as well as patient confidentiality, we are unable to make a full statement at this time,” the lawyer said, “other than to assure you that there is much more to this case, both factually and medically, than has been reported thus far.”

Hospital: A ‘heartbreaking situation’ 

Several outlets are reporting Mercy Gilbert Medical Center has completed its own internal investigation.

Covering that development, AZFamily.com says a Dignity Health spokesperson released the following statement:

‘This is a heartbreaking situation. We immediately conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the care that was provided to learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care. Out of respect for the patient’s privacy, we cannot discuss details. We continue to work with the family and their representative. Patient safety and exceptional care is our highest priority.’

The hospital declined to tell NBC News whether the doctor who made the serious medical error remains on staff.

Happy ending ahead? 

In a GoFundMe page set up to help pay Baby Vincent’s medical bills, the appeal organizer reports the child has minor brain bruising but no serious brain damage. 

“Vincent is breathing on his own with the assistance of a ventilator while his lungs continue to heal,” the GoFundMe organizer writes. “Doctors are taking things slowly, allowing Vincent’s body to guide the pace of his recovery.”

Earlier this year the CDC noted drowning is the leading cause of death among children between 1 and 4 years old. 

For links to additional media coverage of the Baby Vincent Fiordilino case, click here.