580 likes | 1.39k Views
Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation A National Cooperative. “SUIDI” Training Academies. SUIDI Teams. One team per state Five members: Medical Examiner/Coroner (team leader) Medicolegal Death Investigator Law Enforcement Officer Child Protection Expert
E N D
Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation A National Cooperative
SUIDI Teams • One team per state • Five members: • Medical Examiner/Coroner (team leader) • Medicolegal Death Investigator • Law Enforcement Officer • Child Protection Expert • Post-secondary Teaching Professional
Delaware Office of the Chief Medical ExaminerForensic Sciences Laboratory Deputy Director Hal G. Brown
Delaware Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Medical-Legal Death Investigator Brian McCarthy
Delaware Division of Family Services Child Protective Worker Diana Milo
Sudden Unexplained Infant Death The sudden and unexpected death of an infant due to natural or unnatural causes.
Well then Maam… what is SIDS? (just the facts) Sudden death of an infant under one year of age, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history.
A national cooperative? What do I have to do? Why?
THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS • “WHY”? • SINCE SIDS is ONLY a type of SUIDI; We must establish a consistent RESEARCH BASED SCENE DATA COLLECTION & FOLLOW-UP • Currently, we lack consistency… STATEWIDE REPORTING FORM DOLL RE-ENACTIMENT SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY & REENACTMENT “WHAT MUST WE DO” There must be a State Wide SUIDI Procedure that addresses: AND: ELECTRONICALLY REPORT SCENE DATA TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER!!!
Thoroughly know the “Top 25”… • Case Information • Asphyxia • Sharing sleep surfaces • Change in sleep conditions • Hyperthermia/hypothermia • Environmental hazards (CO, chemicals, etc) • Unsafe sleeping condition • Diet • Recent hospitalizations • Previous medical diagnosis • History of acute life threatening events • History of medical care without diagnosis • Recent fall or other injury • History of religious, cultural, or ethnic remedies
Cause of death due to natural causes other than SIDS Prior sibling deaths • Previous encounters with police or social service agencies • Request for tissue or organ donation • Objection to autopsy • Pre-terminal resuscitative treatment • Death due to trauma (injury), poisoning, or intoxication • Suspicious circumstances • Other alerts for pathologist’s attention • Description of circumstances (what happened?) • Pathologist Information (name/agency/phone)
Sleeping position (step-father) Baby’s Crib sleeping position (decedent) • Sharing sleep surfaces
Yeah… the kid is sleeping in the trailer! • Unsafe sleeping conditions
Recent hospitalizations
Cause of death due to natural causes other than SIDS --Prior sibling deaths
Family Information • Prior sibling deaths
Value of Education; Presenting the CDC-SUIDI mission back home.
Fundamental knowledge of growth and development provides an understanding of;
Normal Vs. abnormal Infant growth • Growth Charts • Screening tools • Developmental milestones
Interagency cooperation and multi-disciplinary approach.
Scene Investigation Protocol
The Interview Process