An 18-month-old boy who was declared dead at a hospital in Gilbert has been found alive, according to reports. Gilbert is located approximately 11 miles northwest of Queen Creek. The toddler was discovered in a family swimming pool in Gilbert on Super Bowl Sunday after a suspected drowning incident. He was transported to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Police officers present at the hospital raised concerns that the child was showing signs of life, but medical staff dismissed these observations. A police report indicates that a doctor brushed off an officer’s attempts to alert him to the situation, stating that the officer lacked the necessary medical expertise. The report quotes the doctor as saying he had a medical degree and went to medical school for a reason, telling the officer to let him handle the situation. The officer also noted hearing a nurse mention that the toddler had a pulse.
Despite the declaration of death, officers continued to observe what they described as signs of life. One officer wrote that air release was both audible and visible, and the child appeared to be gasping for air. The toddler was moved to the hospital morgue, where the officer observed what appeared to be a gasp or air release nearly an hour after the initial pronouncement. Audio recordings captured an officer instructing the family to say their goodbyes to the child.
Several hours later, a medical examiner determined that the toddler was still alive. An MRI scan revealed that the child has sustained brain damage and will require lifelong care. The incident has drawn attention to the medical care provided during the initial emergency response.
