Priority Area:

Diagnosis

The Diagnosis team will review existing methods of infant death scene investigation and will make recommendations for ways to improve diagnostic procedures so as to provide more timely and effective support services to bereaved families. The team will also monitor state policies and legislation governing issues of confidentiality and the conduct of scene investigations for SIDS and other infant deaths. Team members also hope to develop additional educational training resources and recommendations for medical professionals, first responders, and others who work in the field; and to promote increased collaboration between SID/ID organizations and local Child Fatality Review teams and Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) teams. Please check back at this site regularly for the latest Diagnosis Team reports and team news


Click here to download a report of the Diagnosis Work Team's recent activities and future directions. (pdf file 220k)


Annotated Recommendations for Modification to the CDC Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death Investigation Report Form. (pdf file 149k)


Download "Maine Infant Death Scene Investigation protocol" (pdf file, 76k)

This is the Infant Death Scene Investigation protocol developed by the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and used by the medical examiners and the Maine State Police in conducting investigations of infant deaths. The NSIDPSC Diagnosis team selected this protocol after reviewing several that were submitted by medical examiners and coroners nationwide. Team members felt that it best represents the desired components of brevity, thoroughness, and ease of use in documenting the events surrounding an infant's death. Accordingly, the team recommends this document as an example of a format that death scene investigators, law enforcement officers, pathologists, and other professionals in the fields of medicine and criminal justice should follow in order to more effectively investigate infant deaths.
Contact information for the Maine office is as follows:
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
37 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0037
ph (207) 624-7180/fax (207) 624-7178

Last Updated: December 23, 2004


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