Arizona toddler found breathing in hospital morgue after being declared dead

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (OPA) — On February 8, Alexus and Angelo Fiordilino rushed their 18-month-old son, Vincent, to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center after finding him unresponsive in their home swimming pool. Despite resuscitation efforts, emergency room physician Dr. Aryan Toosi pronounced the toddler dead at 6:20 p.m. The family was instructed to say their final goodbyes shortly thereafter. More than five hours later, personnel from the Medical Examiner’s office discovered the child was still breathing while preparing to transport his body.

Police reports indicate that hospital staff dismissed concerns about the child’s condition prior to the pronouncement of death. One officer noted in a report that a nurse claimed to have detected a pulse, but Dr. Toosi allegedly insisted on his medical assessment and directed staff to cease life-saving measures. Records show that Dr. Toosi cited blood gas results to justify the time of death, yet medical documentation suggests those results were not available until 18 minutes after the official pronouncement.

Following the discovery in the morgue, Vincent was airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. An MRI confirmed the toddler sustained severe brain damage due to the duration of oxygen deprivation. The family’s attorney, John Brewer, has raised concerns regarding the standard of care provided, specifically noting the failure to perform core body temperature checks or implement warming protocols during the initial emergency response.

Vincent now requires constant medical supervision and physical therapy for his injuries. The Fiordilino family continues to seek accountability from the medical team involved, arguing that multiple warning signs were ignored during the initial treatment. The hospital has not provided a detailed public response regarding the specific clinical decisions made by Dr. Toosi during the incident.