Guidelines for postmortem protocol for ocular investigation of sudden unexplained infant death and suspected physical child abuse. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2007 Dec;28(4):323-9
Date
11/29/2007Pubmed ID
18043020DOI
10.1097/PAF.0b013e31815b4c00Scopus ID
2-s2.0-36549013306 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 56 CitationsAbstract
Postmortem examination is a cornerstone in identifying the cause of unexplained sudden death in children. Even in cases of suspected or known abuse, an autopsy may help characterize the nature of the abuse, which is particularly important in the forensic autopsy of children in the first 3 to 4 years of life when inflicted neurotrauma is most common. Forensic examinations are vital in cases that might otherwise be diagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome. The ocular autopsy in particular may demonstrate findings that were not appreciated on antemortem clinical examination. This protocol for postmortem examination of the eyes and orbits was developed to promote more consistent documentation of findings, improved clinical and forensic decision making, and more replicable and coherent research outcomes.
Author List
Gilliland MG, Levin AV, Enzenauer RW, Smith C, Parsons MA, Rorke-Adams LB, Lauridson JR, La Roche GR, Christmann LM, Mian M, Jentzen J, Simons KB, Morad Y, Alexander R, Jenny C, Wygnanski-Jaffe TMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AutopsyChild Abuse
Child, Preschool
Eye Injuries
Female
Forensic Medicine
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Sudden Infant Death
United States
