A family in Arizona is demanding answers after their toddler was declared dead at a hospital, only to be found breathing more than five hours later in the hospital morgue.
According to ABC7 Los Angeles, 18-month-old Vincent Fiordilino was found unresponsive in a swimming pool during a family gathering in Gilbert, Arizona, on February 8. He was rushed to Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where a doctor pronounced him dead at 6:20 p.m. According to police records, several family members and two officers questioned whether Vincent was still breathing after the declaration. Hours later, a worker from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived to collect the child and discovered he was alive.
Vincent reportedly suffered severe, permanent brain injuries. His family says he has been unable to walk independently or regain his speech since being discharged from the hospital in April. The family is preparing to sue, alleging that the hospital’s handling of the situation contributed to his injuries. The doctor’s attorney expressed sympathy for the family but declined to discuss the case because of pending litigation. The hospital also declined to comment on the specifics of Vincent’s care.
Police found no probable cause to recommend criminal charges against hospital staff and referred the case to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for review.
It’s a deeply disturbing case that raises serious questions about how Vincent was pronounced dead and why concerns about signs of life did not lead to an earlier reassessment. Just another reminder how real life can be far more disturbing than any horror movie.