Child abuse reports in families with sudden infant death syndrome

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
R L O'HalloranC D Rom

Abstract

This study investigates the relation between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases and reports to public child protection service (CPS) agencies of suspected child abuse or neglect prior to the sudden deaths. SIDS data were collected from the Ventura County Medical Examiner's death investigation records of 1981 through 1995. Names of deceased infants, their parents, and any other caretakers who might have been with the infant near the time of death were submitted to the county CPS, where they were referenced for reports of abuse or neglect. A control population of non-SIDS infants and their caretakers were checked in a similar manner. The 150 infants from the control group were compared with 157 SIDS infants; no significant statistical difference was found between groups in the incidence or type of CPS referrals. These findings suggest that screening CPS records for previous referrals is an ineffective method by which to detect infanticides misdiagnosed as SIDS and may cast unwarranted suspicion on otherwise typical SIDS cases.

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Citations

Jul 2, 2002·International Journal of Law and Psychiatry·Josephine Stanton, Alexander Simpson
Aug 26, 2003·Legal Medicine·R W Byard, H F Krous
May 18, 1999·Archives of Disease in Childhood·R Meadow
Dec 2, 2005·The International Journal of Psycho-analysis·Michael I GoodEve Rowell
Oct 22, 2013·The Journal of Pediatrics·Emily Putnam-HornsteinHenry F Krous
Jun 1, 2002·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·Henry F KrousRoger W Byard

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