Also, it takes time to analyze and apply results from other research methods to SIDS studies. To predict and ultimately prevent SIDS, scientists will need multiple markers with strong predictive value. In addition to identifying babies at risk, another important function of SIDS research is to differentiate among causes of death. An unambiguous morphologic pattern that distinguishes SIDS cases will help to protect bereaved parents from accusations of child abuse and neglect and, possibly, rule out inherited metabolic disorders, which will provide useful knowledge for the parents' future family planning. Much of what is known about SIDS begins with the findings from the death investigation conducted by the medical examiner or coroner, pathologist, and law enforcement personnel.
All state laws require investigation of cases of sudden infant death.
The information produced by these investigations forms the basic foundation of all research. To help improve uniformity of information, the Division of Maternal and Child Health of the Department of Health and Human Services held a meeting in 1975 which resulted in investigative and autopsy protocols for examining the SIDS infant. This article was published in Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. The findings of this study will be summarized in Part 2 of this article. Another large study is the U.S. Collaborative Perinatal Project, supported by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke.