The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is reviewing the Gilbert Police Department's recommendation that Vincent Fiordilino's parents face felony child abuse charges, according to AZFamily. No charges have been filed.
Investigators say Vincent disappeared from his parents' view during the gathering before guests found him floating face down in a backyard swimming pool. According to a police report obtained by AZFamily, both parents later admitted to smoking marijuana during the party. The report alleges Vincent's fall into the pool went unnoticed because both parents were impaired by marijuana and/or other mind-altering substances.
After Vincent was pulled from the water, first responders transported him to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where a doctor pronounced him dead that evening, according to police. The case took an extraordinary turn hours later when medical personnel discovered the toddler was alive and breathing after he had already been transferred to the hospital's morgue around 7:23 p.m., according to police. Vincent was immediately airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital for treatment.
The police report alleges responding officers and Vincent's parents questioned whether the toddler had actually died before he was pronounced dead, saying they believed he was still showing signs of life. Hospital staff reportedly told them Vincent was exhibiting agonal breathing, an involuntary reflex that can occur near death.
According to the report, a nurse later reported detecting a pulse after the child had been pronounced dead. Detectives allege the physician who made the initial determination maintained his assessment was correct and instructed hospital staff to stop lifesaving measures despite concerns from Vincent's parents and responding officers that the toddler still appeared to be breathing. Police did not recommend criminal charges against the physician, according to AZFamily.
According to AZFamily, a Dignity Health spokesperson said the hospital conducted a review following the incident.
"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," the spokesperson said in a statement. "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."
A GoFundMe campaign created for the family described Vincent as a "miracle baby" after he survived the ordeal.
"Vincent was declared deceased," the fundraiser says. "His devastated parents were sent home in unimaginable grief. But God had other plans. A little after 11:30 p.m., the family received a call no one expected: the medical examiner had detected a faint heartbeat."
According to the fundraiser, Vincent's kidneys, lungs and liver began shutting down after he arrived at Phoenix Children's Hospital. An MRI initially identified two small areas of potential brain damage, but later testing reportedly found no brain damage. The fundraiser says Vincent continues to require extensive therapy, ongoing medical monitoring and treatment as he recovers.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Gilbert Police Department, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and Phoenix Children's Hospital for comment.
Brittany Miller
https://www.foxnews.com/us/toddler-declared-dead-after-near-drowning-found-alive-hospital-morgue-hours-later-police-say
Investigators say Vincent disappeared from his parents' view during the gathering before guests found him floating face down in a backyard swimming pool. According to a police report obtained by AZFamily, both parents later admitted to smoking marijuana during the party. The report alleges Vincent's fall into the pool went unnoticed because both parents were impaired by marijuana and/or other mind-altering substances.
After Vincent was pulled from the water, first responders transported him to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where a doctor pronounced him dead that evening, according to police. The case took an extraordinary turn hours later when medical personnel discovered the toddler was alive and breathing after he had already been transferred to the hospital's morgue around 7:23 p.m., according to police. Vincent was immediately airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital for treatment.
The police report alleges responding officers and Vincent's parents questioned whether the toddler had actually died before he was pronounced dead, saying they believed he was still showing signs of life. Hospital staff reportedly told them Vincent was exhibiting agonal breathing, an involuntary reflex that can occur near death.
According to the report, a nurse later reported detecting a pulse after the child had been pronounced dead. Detectives allege the physician who made the initial determination maintained his assessment was correct and instructed hospital staff to stop lifesaving measures despite concerns from Vincent's parents and responding officers that the toddler still appeared to be breathing. Police did not recommend criminal charges against the physician, according to AZFamily.
According to AZFamily, a Dignity Health spokesperson said the hospital conducted a review following the incident.
"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," the spokesperson said in a statement. "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."
A GoFundMe campaign created for the family described Vincent as a "miracle baby" after he survived the ordeal.
"Vincent was declared deceased," the fundraiser says. "His devastated parents were sent home in unimaginable grief. But God had other plans. A little after 11:30 p.m., the family received a call no one expected: the medical examiner had detected a faint heartbeat."
According to the fundraiser, Vincent's kidneys, lungs and liver began shutting down after he arrived at Phoenix Children's Hospital. An MRI initially identified two small areas of potential brain damage, but later testing reportedly found no brain damage. The fundraiser says Vincent continues to require extensive therapy, ongoing medical monitoring and treatment as he recovers.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Gilbert Police Department, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and Phoenix Children's Hospital for comment.
Brittany Miller
https://www.foxnews.com/us/toddler-declared-dead-after-near-drowning-found-alive-hospital-morgue-hours-later-police-say
Physician feeling heat
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile 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.
https://healthexec.com/topics/patient-care/care-delivery/drowned-child-revives-morgue
GILBERT, Ariz. (AZFamily/Gray News) - A family plans to take legal action after their 1-year-old son was declared dead at an Arizona hospital but found alive hours later in the morgue.
ReplyDeleteBlurred body camera video from Gilbert Police captured a family in distress after a mother found her 1-year-old son floating face down in a backyard swimming pool. The incident happened February 8 during a Super Bowl party.
The toddler was rushed to Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where Dr. A Toosi declared him dead, according to the police report. Hours later, the boy was found alive in a hospital morgue.
The family plans to take legal action against Toosi and Dignity Health, according to their attorney. Prosecutors are also reviewing the case to determine whether the toddler’s parents could face child abuse charges.
https://www.facebook.com/FOX19Cincinnati/posts/update-family-plans-legal-fight-after-toddler-declared-dead-later-found-alive-in/1433579498802596/