Unexplained Pediatric Deaths: Investigation, Certification and Family Needs

This course features a 5-section video presentation on the procedural guidance included in Unexplained Pediatric Deaths: Investigation, Certification and Family Needs published by AFP in 2019 by the National Association of Medical Examiner’s Panel on Sudden Unexpected Pediatric Deaths.

More than 30 subject matter experts collaborated to author this book, establishing the first-ever national procedural guidelines in the U.S. to fill crucial needs in assisting professionals addressing sudden, unexpected pediatric deaths, which account for approximately 4,000 annual deaths nationally. 

The webinar provides a historical review of sudden pediatric deaths over time and outlines a comprehensive investigation while highlighting the need for collaboration among the multiple agencies involved in sudden pediatric death investigations and care of families. The specific roles of pathologists, medical examiners/coroners, death investigators, first responders, law enforcement, emergency department professionals as well as the roles of the pediatrician and primary care physicians in the follow-up care of families will be addressed.  Video simulations are utilized to impactfully illustrate practical skills and to improve the learner’s ability to communicate with families effectively and compassionately after the sudden death of an infant or child. 

TRIGGER WARNING:
This series is intended for professionals involved in these investigations and may not be suitable for parents or caregivers, particularly those who have experienced the loss of a child. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. For support, please reach out to the SUDC Foundation at [email protected] or other trusted resources.

Thanks to the financial support of the SUDC Foundation, this webinar series is offered free of charge to medical professionals, others involved in pediatric death investigations and those who assist in the  follow-up care of families affected.  The SUDC Foundation is a 501(3)c nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness, fund research, and serve those affected by sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC).

Section 1: Overview, Historical Perspective, Risk Factors, Prevention and Research needs of Unexplained Pediatric Deaths

Section 2: Understanding the Role of, and Guidance for, Emergency Department Physicians, Nurses, and Social Workers

Section 3: Understanding the Role of, and Guidance for, the Death Investigator and First Responders

Section 4: Understanding the Role of, and Guidance for, the Medical Examiner/Pathologist with Procedural Guidance and Key Considerations for Conducting Autopsies and Ancillary Testing

Section 4A: Guidance for Death Certification and Synoptic Reporting will Emphasize Strategies that Improve Documentation and Dissemination of Postmortem Data

Section 5: Understanding the Role of, and Guidance for, Pediatricians and Clinical Care Providers

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