A toddler who was pronounced dead after a suspected drowning in Arizona was miraculously found alive in a hospital morgue nearly six hours later.
The 18-month-old boy, who was found inside his family’s pool in Gilbert on Super Bowl Sunday, was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and pronounced dead despite concerns from police that the tot showed signs of life, according to ABC 15.
Medical staff at the hospital dismissed their concerns, saying that the toddler’s body was only responding to efforts to save his life. A police officer tried to alert the doctor who pronounced him dead, but the doctor brushed him off as not having the expertise necessary.
“[The doctor] arrogantly told me he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing,” a police report said. The officer had also heard a nurse say the toddler had a pulse.
The doctor still declared the toddler dead, despite officers seeing signs of life over the next hour.
“The release of air was audible and visible,” an officer wrote, adding: “It also began to sound like [the child] was gasping for air.”
Medical staff moved the boy inside the morgue, and the officer saw the toddler breathing again.
“I again observed what appeared to be a gasp or air release, which was now almost an hour later,” the report said.
Audio recordings captured an officer telling the family to say their goodbyes to the boy.
Several hours later, the medical examiner discovered the toddler was in fact still alive.
The baby will still require lifelong care after an MRI revealed he had brain damage, according to ABC 15.
“This is a heartbreaking situation,” Mercy Gilbert Medical Center said in a statement.
“We immediately conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the care 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.”
Read the full article here
