‘I was grossly misled’: Arizona mother’s son found alive in morgue hours after being pronounced dead, now facing lifelong health complications

An Arizona mother whose child was mistakenly pronounced dead has accused doctors of misleading her after learning of the medical care her son received. Alexus Fiordilino’s 18-month-old son, Vincent, was found in the family’s pool and pronounced dead, but hours later, medical staff in the hospital morgue realized the boy was still breathing.

On February 8, at 6:20 p.m., Fiordilino, 30, was told that her son was dead after he was found face down in the family pool. The toddler was pronounced dead 18 minutes after being transported to the Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, according to The Arizona Republic.

However, four hours after being pronounced dead, a medical examiner’s transporter in the hospital’s cold room noticed that he was still breathing.

Last week, Fiordilino spoke about her experience for the first time. She and her attorney, John Brewer, have also revealed that they are considering legal action against the doctor who treated her son, Dr. Aryan Toosi, as well as Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.

Alexus Fiordilino claims she’s seeking accountability

The mother said that she was seeking “accountability” and told the outlet that she felt “Infuriated,” adding, “I feel like I was grossly misled.”

Fiordilino noted several “weird” interactions with Dr. Toosi. One such interaction involved an officer who had been assigned to go to the hospital who claimed they heard one nurse say, “I have a pulse,” according to The Arizona Republic.

Fiordilino said the officer questioned Toosi as to whether he had been “preemptive” in talking to the family when they were still working and “had possibly found a pulse.” She claimed that the doctor “got upset,” telling the officer he “needed to let them do his thing because he went to school for this.” A police report from other officers seemed to corroborate a similar scenario.

Toosi allegedly returned five minutes later and told the family that Vincent’s PH levels were too high. Fiordilino said she was told it meant the “acidic levels in his blood were too high for sustainable life.” After hearing this, the family decided to stop resuscitation efforts.

However, Brewer claimed the family made that decision “based upon a lie.” When the family went to say their goodbyes, they told staff that it seemed like Vincent was breathing, but medical staff told them it was agonal breathing.

After Vincent was found to be alive, he was airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. However, Fiordilino claims her baby is a very “different baby,” saying that her son suffered a “very severe brain injury.” 

Dr. Toosi declined to comment, but his lawyer, Scott Holden, said that “Dr. Toosi’s thoughts are with the young patient and family,” adding that “he wishes the child continued healing and recovery.”