Hospitals are where families seek help in tough times, hoping for answers from the medical staff. For Alexus Fiordilino and her husband, Angelo, a frightening day took an unexpected turn. In February, their 18-month-old son, Vincent, was found face down in their swimming pool, reportedly underwater for about five minutes. His parents quickly performed CPR and took him to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in Arizona.
Upon arrival, Alexus thought the hospital staff would be able to help. However, emergency room doctor Aryan Toosi later told them that Vincent could not be saved. Alexus faced the painful reality of saying goodbye to her son, as the doctor indicated that Vincent had very low blood pH levels, suggesting he might not survive even if resuscitated. Toosi allegedly said it would be better to stop CPR and asked his team if anyone disagreed.
Despite this, some family members, including Alexus’s mother-in-law, believed Vincent could still be alive, as they thought they heard sounds coming from him. Hospital staff explained these were agonal breaths, which can occur when someone is deprived of oxygen.
Several hours later, after Vincent was declared beyond help, staff from the medical examiner’s office arrived at the morgue and found him alive. He had spent about five and a half hours in the morgue before being moved to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for further care. Alexus was shocked and struggled to understand how this could happen to her son.
An MRI at Phoenix Children’s Hospital later indicated that Vincent suffered significant brain damage, meaning he would need lifelong assistance. Although he was found alive, the severity of his condition created a long-term challenge for the family.
The events surrounding the doctor’s decision have led to an investigation by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, focusing on the blood gas test that influenced the choice to stop resuscitation, as noted by the family’s lawyer, John Brewer. What do you think about the investigation into this case?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Erika Saikovskytė