Protocols, practices, and needs for investigating sudden unexpected infant deaths

Authors

Carri Cottengim, Maternal and Infant Health Branch, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, N.E. MS S107-2, Chamblee, GA, 30341, USA
Sharyn Parks, Maternal and Infant Health Branch, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, N.E. MS S107-2, Chamblee, GA, 30341, USA
Dale Rhoda, Biostat Global Consulting, Worthington, OH, formerly at Battelle, Columbus, OH, USA
Tom Andrew, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Concord, NH, USA
Kurt B. Nolte, Office of the Medical Investigator, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
John Fudenberg, Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Mary Ann Sens, Department of Pathology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA
Jennifer Brustrom, Battelle, Columbus, OH, USA
Betsy Payn, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Carrie K. Shapiro-Mendoza, Maternal and Infant Health Branch, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, N.E. MS S107-2

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2020

Abstract

Understanding case identification practices, protocols, and training needs of medical examiners and coroners (MEC) may inform efforts to improve cause-of-death certification. We surveyed a U.S.-representative sample of MECs and described investigation practices and protocols used in certifying sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID). We also identified MEC training and resource needs. Of the 377 respondents, use of the SUID Investigation Reporting Form or an equivalent was 89% for large, 87% for medium, and 52% for small jurisdictions. Routine completion of infant medical history, witness interviews, autopsy, photos or videos, and family social history for infant death investigations was ≥80%, but routine scene re-creation with a doll was 30% in small, 64% in medium, and 59% in large offices. Seventy percent of MECs reported infant death investigation training needs. Increased training and use of standardized practices may improve SUID cause-of-death certification, allowing us to better understand SUID.

Recommended Citation

Cottengim C, Parks S, Rhoda D, Andrew T, Nolte KB, Fudenberg J, Sens MA, Brustrom J, Payn B, Shapiro-Mendoza CK. Protocols, practices, and needs for investigating sudden unexpected infant deaths. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2020 Mar;16(1):91-98. doi: 10.1007/s12024-019-00196-1. Epub 2019 Nov 18. PMID: 31741206; PMCID: PMC7086217.