He bolstered his thesis with detailed accounts of the death of five babies in one unidentified family. Fitzpatrick agreed and began digging. Much of the incriminating material in the case comes from the extensive research records kept by Steinschneider. Steinschneider's findings have supported the idea that families who have lost one baby to SIDS can avoid losing subsequent children by hooking up sleeping infants to devices that set off an alarm when the gaps between breaths become too long. Cases like Hoyt's and Tinning's, as well as the increasing awareness of child abuse in the U.S., have led law-enforcement and medical authorities to call for a more aggressive approach to investigating infant deaths.
Most states now require an autopsy for all babies who die unexpectedly.
Before a diagnosis of SIDS can be made, an examination of the scene of death and a review of the child's medical history are made. SIDS experts are calling for standardized protocols to guide such investigations. While all this may serve the interests of justice, it will doubtless cause greater pain to parents already stunned by the loss of a child to crib death or some other natural cause. Now, in addition to enduring their grief, they will face more intense questioning from officials. But SIDS parents are among the most fervent supporters of stricter investigations.