Emergency call, a mistaken declaration and a stunned family
A medical emergency at a Super Bowl party in Gilbert on Feb. 8 turned into an unfolding crisis when an 18-month-old boy who had nearly drowned was pronounced dead at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and was later discovered alive in the hospital morgue.
Gilbert police records show the first 911 call came at approximately 5:30 p.m. after the child's mother found him floating face down in a backyard pool. The child was taken to the hospital, where a doctor identified in police documents as A. Toosi pronounced the toddler dead at 6:20 p.m.
Conflicting observations inside the emergency room
According to the police report, nurses, officers and the child’s parents observed signs that raised concern both before and after the declaration of death. At 6:26 p.m., the mother asked, "He’s breathing, is that normal?" A nurse reportedly told officers, "I have a pulse," and an officer later noted the child’s chest and stomach appeared to be rising and falling.
"No objections, I’d like to call time of death."
The police report quotes a voice captured on body camera saying those words as the declaration was made. The report also says the doctor responded to an officer’s concerns by asserting his authority, saying he was the doctor and had the medical degree.
Discovery in the morgue and aftermath
At approximately 11:52 p.m., a transporter from the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner arrived at the hospital to retrieve the child and found him breathing and with a pulse. The child was flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The family’s attorney says the boy now faces significant medical issues that will require lifelong care.
- Parent action: The child’s parents plan to pursue legal action against the doctor and Dignity Health, the system that operates Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.
- Prosecutors: Maricopa County prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine whether charges, including potential child abuse charges against the parents, are appropriate.
- Doctor’s status: State records list Aryan Toosi as holding an osteopathic physician license issued in 2023 and completing an emergency medicine residency in 2022.
| Event | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| 911 call from Super Bowl party | 5:30 p.m. |
| Doctor pronounces toddler dead | 6:20 p.m. |
| Mother asks about breathing | 6:26 p.m. |
| Transporter finds toddler alive | 11:52 p.m. |
Local repercussions and broader questions
For Gilbert residents, the incident raises immediate questions about hospital protocols, communication in high-stress emergency situations and who is accountable when clinical judgment is challenged. The presence of multiple observers — family members, nurses and police officers — who noticed signs of life complicates the narrative and puts a spotlight on how declarations of death are made and documented.
Beyond the individual tragedy, the case is likely to touch on wider statewide concerns about oversight of medical providers and the processes used when the medical examiner is called. The family’s intention to sue, combined with a prosecutor review, means the matter could move through administrative and criminal channels.
Officials with Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Dignity Health and prosecutors have roles to play in clarifying what happened and whether policies or licensure actions are warranted. For now, the immediate priority for the family is care for the child, who according to the family’s attorney faces long-term medical needs after the near-drowning.
The story is under active review by local authorities and hospital officials. As investigators gather more records and interviews, Gilbert residents will be watching how local institutions respond to a rare and deeply troubling mishap inside a community hospital emergency room.
