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.
Biostat Global Consulting, Worthington, OH, formerly at Battelle, Columbus, OH, USA.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2020 Mar;16(1):91-98. doi: 10.1007/s12024-019-00196-1. Epub 2019 Nov 18.
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.
了解法医和验尸官（MEC）的病例识别实践、方案和培训需求，可能有助于改进死因认证工作。我们对美国具有代表性的 MEC 样本进行了调查，描述了用于认证突发性意外婴儿死亡（SUID）的调查实践和方案。我们还确定了 MEC 的培训和资源需求。在 377 名受访者中，大型司法管辖区 89%、中型 87%和小型 52%使用 SUID 调查报告表或同等表格。对婴儿死亡调查进行常规完成婴儿病史、证人访谈、尸检、照片或视频以及家庭社会史的比例≥80%，但在小型、中型和大型办公室中，常规使用娃娃重现现场的比例分别为 30%、64%和 59%。70%的 MEC 报告了婴儿死亡调查培训需求。增加培训和使用标准化实践可能会改善 SUID 的死因认证，使我们能够更好地了解 SUID。
