October is SIDS awareness month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 3,700 infants die each year in the United States in what are described as sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUID). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which accounted for 1600 deaths in 2016, is the leading SUID. The CDC defines SIDS as “the sudden death of an infant less than one year of age” which remains unexplainable after a thorough investigation, a complete autopsy, an examination of the death scene and review of the clinical history. For some reason, children over the age of one are not at risk for SIDS. Other known causes of SUID include, in order of occurrence,  unknown causes (1200 deaths) and accidental suffocation or strangulation (900 deaths).

The number of child deaths from SIDS has declined by more than 50 percent since 1990. This is largely due to public health awareness campaigns, like the Back to Sleep campaign. The current campaign is Safe to Sleep. The following infographic provide additional information that may be helpful.

Missouri Law and SIDS

Section 194.117 RSMo., provides that an autopsy must occur when a child under one dies from an unexplainable death. The statute states, in pertinent part, that:

Any person who discovers the dead body of, or acquires the first knowledge of the death of, any child under the age of one year and over the age of one week, where the child died suddenly when in apparent good health, shall immediately notify the county coroner or medical examiner of the known facts concerning the time, place, manner, and circumstances of the death. All such deaths shall be autopsied by a certified child death pathologist. … at the expense of the state. …The results from the autopsy shall be reduced to writing and delivered to the state department of health and senior services. The term “sudden infant death syndrome” shall be entered on the death certificate as the principal cause of death where the term is appropriately descriptive of the circumstances surrounding the death of the child. The cost of the autopsy and transportation of the body shall be paid by the department of health and senior services.

Medical Malpractice and Other Causes of Infant Deaths

Other causes of infant deaths include bacterial infections and respiratory diseases. The attorneys of Kennedy, Kennedy, Robbins & Yarbro, LC, represent individuals who have been harmed by medical errors. If you suspect you have a medical malpractice claim, please contact us or call us at (573)686-2459. There is a statute of limitations which functions to bar your claim. As a result, time may be critically short so don’t delay.