A Functional Approach to Sudden Unexplained Infant Deaths : The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

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Original Article

A Functional Approach to Sudden Unexplained Infant Deaths

Corey, Tracey S. MD*; Hanzlick, Randy MD†; Howard, John MD‡; Nelson, Clifford MD§; Krous, Henry MD∥

Author Information

From the *Kentucky Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Louisville, Kentucky; †Fulton County Medical Examiner Center, Atlanta, Georgia; ‡Pierce County Medical Examiner, Tacoma, Washington; §Oregon State Police Medical Examiner Division, Portland, Oregon; and the ∥Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, California.

Manuscript received December 18, 2006; accepted December 18, 2006.

There is no external source of support for this work that requires acknowledgment.

Reviewed and approved by the NAME Board of Directors October 14, 2005.

Prepared by the NAME Ad Hoc Committee on Sudden Unexplained Infant Death: Tracey Corey, MD, Chair; Randy Hanzlick, MD; John Howard, MD; Clifford Nelson, MD; Henry Krous, MD, Advisor.

Reprints: Tracey S. Corey, MD, OCME 810 Barret Ave, Louisville, KY 40204. E-mail: [email protected].

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 28(3):p 271-277, September 2007. | DOI: 10.1097/01.paf.0000257385.25803.cf

Abstract

There is a great deal of variation in the methods and wording used by medical examiners in the medicolegal investigation and certification of infant deaths. This paper was created by the NAME Ad Hoc Committee on Sudden Unexplained Infant Death to address several specific issues, namely:

  • To establish a functional approach to the investigation of sudden unexplained infant deaths
  • To outline a “bare minimum” set of recommendations to define the scope of investigation required
  • To recommend methods and wording to be used when certifying infant deaths
  • To develop a list of potential stressors or possible external causes of death that should be identified and reported on the death certificate and/or within a medical examiner/coroner office database

This paper was electronically posted for NAME member review and comment for a period of 30 days. The paper was further revised based on member comments and then submitted to the NAME board of directors in the fall of 2005 prior to the annual meeting. This text of this paper was officially approved and endorsed by the NAME board of directors on October 14, 2005, at the annual meeting in Los Angeles, CA.

© 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

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