8.43 Unexpected Child Death
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RELATED GUIDANCE
ACPO: A Guide to Investigating Child Deaths
AMENDMENT
In September 2014, this chapter was updated.
Contents
- Introduction
- Children to whom the Protocol should be Applied
- The Coroner
- Background
- What is in the Protocol?
- Principles
- General Advice for Professionals when Dealing with the Family
- Inter-Agency Working
- Early Joint Home Visit for Unexpected Deaths of Young Children
- Early Case Discussion
- Late Multi-Agency Case Discussion
- Factors which may Arouse Suspicion
- Individual Agency Response
- History and Examination
- Recommended Medical Investigations
- Skeletal Survey
- Mementos
- Speaking to the Coroner
- Information for the Pathologist
- Care of the Family and Follow up by Hospital
- Acute Life Threatening Event
- Post-mortem, Pathologist and Coroner
- The Lullaby Trust
- Appendix 1: Unexpected Death of a Child Clinical and Social Information
Introduction
8.43.1 | This is the fourth version of the Sussex Joint Agency Protocol for Unexpected Child Deaths, which was originally published in 1999. This latest version takes account of "Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy" published in September 2004 by the Royal College of Pathologists and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the statutory guidance in Working Together to Safeguard Children, HM Government 2015. These reports contain further detail on this subject and recommendations relating to the investigation of such deaths. These reports can be accessed via Royal College websites: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health or The Royal College of Pathologists and Department of Health respectively. |
8.43.2 | The aim of the protocol is to provide guidance to professionals confronted with the unexpected death of a child. It is acknowledged that each death has unique circumstances and each professional has their own experience and expertise to draw on in their handling of individual cases. There are, however, common aspects to the management of unexpected child deaths and it is important to achieve good practice and a consistent approach. |
Children to whom the Protocol should be Applied
8.43.3 | An unexpected death is one where the death of an infant or child was not anticipated as a significant possibility, for example, 24 hours before the death, or where there was a similarly unexpected collapse or incident leading to or d child precipitating the events that lead to the death. In dealing with an unexpected collapse it is important to remember that even if a child survives for several days following a collapse before dying from an identifiable cause, a multi-agency response to the death is still required if initial collapse was not anticipated within the previous 24 hours. The protocol should be applied to all unexpected deaths of children under the age of 18. The protocol will not apply to babies who die under medical supervision having never left the hospital. | |
8.43.4 | When a child with a known life limiting and or life threatening condition dies in a manner or at a time that was not anticipated, the rapid response team should liaise closely and promptly with a member of the medical, palliative or end of life care team who knows the child and family, to jointly determine how best to respond to that child's death. This should include consideration of whether the child's body should be transferred to a hospital or hospice, and whether any investigations or inquiries are required. Where an end of life plan has been agreed by the end of life care team and is in place, this should be followed unless there are pressing reasons not to do so. For example, the coroner decides where the child's body may be taken and this decision may be different to what was set out in the family's prepared plan. The presence of a community children's nurse on call as part of the rapid response team could facilitate the process of communication and fact-finding. | |
8.43.5 |
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The Coroner
8.43.6 | The Coroner must be informed at the earliest opportunity of any violent or unnatural death, sudden death of unknown cause, or death within 24 hours of admission to hospital. |
8.43.7 | Individual cases can always be discussed with a Coroner's Officer or, in an emergency, with the Coroner directly. The Coroner should normally be contacted via the Coroner's Officer. |
8.43.8 | The Coroner has control of what happens to the child's body in these circumstances and decides which pathologist will complete the post-mortem. |
Background
8.43.9 | The majority of unexpected child deaths have natural causes and are unavoidable tragedies. The incidence of unexpected child deaths is highest in infancy. About three hundred babies die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in the UK. |
8.43.10 | Professionals from a number of different agencies and disciplines will become involved following an unexpected child death to enquire into and evaluate the child's death, and where the cause is unknown, to try to establish the cause of the death and support the family. |
8.43.11 | The type of response to each child's unexpected death will depend to a certain extent on the age of the child and the circumstances of the death; there are clear differences between an infant who dies unexpectedly and a child who dies as a result of a road traffic collision. However, there are key elements that underpin all subsequent work, which are contained in this protocol. |
8.43.12 | This protocol is intended to provide guidance to the professionals confronted with one of these tragic events. |
8.43.13 | All professionals need to strike a balance between managing the sensitivities of a bereaved family and identifying and preserving anything that may help to explain why a child has died. A minority of unexpected deaths will be the consequence of abuse or neglect, or be found to have abuse or neglect as an associated factor. It is as important to identify medical conditions and hereditary disorders, and to absolve a family from blame, as to identify unnatural deaths or homicides. |
What is in the Protocol?
8.43.14 | The protocol contains general guidance about responding to unexpected child deaths and information about individual agency responsibilities. It describes some of the factors that may raise concern about a death. |
8.43.15 | The key events described in the protocol are:
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Principles
8.43.16 | When dealing with an unexpected child death all agencies need to follow five principles:
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8.43.17 | These are of equal importance. |
General Advice for Professionals when Dealing with the Family
8.43.18 |
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8.43.19 |
Inter-Agency Working
Immediate Information Sharing and Planning Discussion | |
8.43.20 | When a child dies unexpectedly the police should initiate an immediate information sharing and planning discussion between lead agencies (i.e. health, police and children's social care) to decide what should happen next and who will do what. This should take place as soon as possible after a child’s death and ideally always within 24 hours. |
8.43.21 | Where a child is initially taken to a hospital other than the local hospital for the area where they reside, the relevant paediatrician at the receiving hospital should be involved in the discussion. Following the discussion, the paediatrician at the hospital should then contact the appropriate paediatrician in the area where the child lives to arrange the transfer of the investigation and share information. |
8.43.22 | Areas to be addressed include:
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Early Joint Home Visit for Unexpected Deaths of Young Children
8.43.23 | Following the unexpected death of a young child all families should be visited at home within 24-48 hours by a police officer responsible for investigating the child's death and a consultant paediatrician or other health professional experienced in responding to unexpected child deaths. The police are responsible for arranging this visit with the duty consultant paediatrician or other health professional. |
8.43.24 | This joint visit may also be appropriate following the unexpected death of an older child. |
8.43.25 | Aims:
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Early Case Discussion
8.43.26 | A multi-agency case discussion will be convened by children's social care after the initial post-mortem results are known to share information relevant to the investigation of the death, and plan support of the parents. The police officer responsible for investigating the child's death or their representative must be present at this meeting. |
8.43.27 | The purpose of this discussion is:
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8.43.28 | Contributors must include:
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8.43.29 | The designated doctor and nurse should be invited to every discussion. Relevant information will need to be shared with the pathologist(s) and Coroner. |
An agreed record of the Early Case Discussion must be sent to the Coroner. | |
8.43.30 |
Late Multi-Agency Case Discussion
8.43.31 | As soon as the final post-mortem result is available a further multi-agency case discussion should then be organised by children's social care, ideally at the GP's surgery. This should include the health visitor, police, GP, paediatrician, coroner's officer and relevant representatives from other agencies. The meeting should be chaired by the paediatrician. |
8.43.32 | Aims:
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8.43.33 | At this meeting all the relevant information concerning the death, the child's history, family history and subsequent investigation should be reviewed. |
8.43.34 | During the course of the meeting there should be an explicit discussion of whether abuse or neglect could have been a contributory factor to the child's death, and any decisions recorded. This should include whether there is any indication of factors that suggest a need for a serious case review, and if so agree the process for requesting a serious case review panel. |
8.43.35 | An agreed record of the case discussion meeting should be sent to the Coroner. |
Factors which may Arouse Suspicion
8.43.36 | Some factors in the history or examination of the child may give rise to concern about the circumstances surrounding the death. If any of these are identified it is important that the information is documented and shared with senior colleagues and relevant professionals in other key agencies involved in the investigation. The following list is not exhaustive and is intended only as a guide. |
Previous child deaths in the family | |
8.43.37 | Two or more unexplained child deaths occurring within the same family is unusual and should raise questions both about an underlying medical or genetic condition as well as possible unnatural events. |
Unexplained injury | |
8.43.38 | Unexplained bruising, burns, bite marks on the dead child or a previous history of these injuries should cause serious concern. A child may have no external evidence of trauma but have serious internal injuries. |
Neglect | |
8.43.39 | Observations about the condition of the accommodation, cleanliness, adequacy of clothing, bedding and the temperature of the environment in which the child is found are important. A history of previous concerns about neglect may be relevant. |
Previous child protection concerns within the familyInconsistent information | |
8.43.40 | The account given by the parents or carers of the circumstances of the child's death should be documented verbatim. Inconsistencies in the story given on different occasions or to different professionals should raise suspicion, although it is important to be aware that inconsistencies may occur as a result of the shock and trauma of the death. |
Inappropriate delay in seeking help | |
8.43.41 | Evidence of drug, alcohol or substance misuse particularly if the parents are intoxicated or sedated at the time if the death. |
Evidence of parental mental health problems or learning disabilitiesDomestic Abuse | |
8.43.42 | History or evidence of domestic abuse. |
Presence of blood | |
8.43.43 | The presence of blood must be carefully noted and recorded. A pinkish frothy residue around the nose or mouth may be found in some children whose deaths are due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Fresh blood from the nose or mouth is uncommon, and should lead to the consideration of possible maltreatment. |
Individual Agency Response
PoliceIntroduction | |
8.43.44 | It is important for police officers to remember that most unexpected child deaths have natural causes. Police actions therefore need to be a careful balance between consideration for the bereaved family, and the possibility that a crime has been committed. |
8.43.45 | In cases where the death does not appear suspicious but is unexplained, the Safeguarding Investigations Unit should be involved at the earliest opportunity and assume responsibility for the investigation. |
8.43.46 | In cases where the cause is death is apparent, as in a road traffic collision, or is homicide or suspected homicide, the investigation will be undertaken by the most appropriate department for the presenting circumstances of the death. However, the local Safeguarding Investigations Unit detective sergeant must be informed of the circumstances of the death at the earliest opportunity in order that they can initiate the multi-agency response contained in this protocol. |
Who should attend? | |
8.43.47 | Police attendance should be kept to the minimum required. Several police officers arriving at the house can be distressing, especially if they are uniformed officers in marked police cars. Whenever possible consideration should be given to the initial response being from plain clothed specialist officers, but this may not be possible if a speedy response is necessary. Officers maintaining the integrity of any scene should use unmarked cars where possible. |
Initial action at the scene | |
8.43.48 | The provision of medical assistance to the child is obviously the first priority. If an ambulance is not present ensure one is called immediately, and consider attempting to revive the child unless it is absolutely clear that the child has been dead for some time. Ensure that the Detective Inspector (DI)/Detective Sergeant (DS) is informed of any resuscitation attempts in order that they can inform the pathologist. |
8.43.49 | The first officer at the scene must make a visual check of the child and his/her surroundings, noting any obvious signs of injury. Handle the child as if he or she were alive; ascertain and use the child's name whenever referring to the child. |
8.43.50 | Normally the first officer attending the scene will be responding to an emergency call relating to a child's death. This officer will assume control of the situation and ensure that the appropriate following specialist officers are contacted and attend:
Guide to the post-mortem examination: brief notes for parents and families who have lost a baby in pregnancy or early infancy - DoH When a baby dies suddenly and unexpectedly - The Lullaby Trust Memory Folder - Child Bereavement Trust
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8.43.51 | Officers should at all times be sensitive in the use of personal radios and mobile phones, etc. Whenever possible, the officers liaising with the family, whilst remaining contactable, should have such equipment turned off. Remember not to use Police jargon or phrases like "crime scene" and "scenes of crime officer" within the hearing of the parent or carer. These terms can be very distressing for parents who have done nothing wrong. |
8.43.52 | Explain to the parents or carers that your attendance at such deaths is routine, and that you are trying to determine how the child died. Consider the general advice given in General Advice for Professionals when Dealing with the Family section. |
8.43.53 | It must be established whether the child's body has been moved and the current position (of the child) should be recorded. All other relevant matters should also be recorded. |
8.43.54 | An early record of events from the parent or carer is essential, including details of the child's recent health. All comments should be recorded. Any conflicting accounts should raise suspicion but it must not be forgotten that any bereaved person is likely to be in a state of shock and possibly confused. Repeat questioning of the parent/carer by different police officers should be avoided at this stage if at all possible. |
The Scene | |
8.43.55 | The preservation of the scene and the level of investigation will be relevant and appropriate to the presenting factors. |
8.43.56 | Officers initially attending the scene should ensure it is preserved until the DI attends. Any relevant items should be drawn to their attention, but the DI will decide what items will be retained and removed from the scene. |
8.43.57 | Consideration should be given to:
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8.43.58 | The above is NOT an exhaustive list of considerations and should be treated only as a guide. They will not be necessary in every case. Refer to the earlier section "Factors which may arouse suspicion" |
8.43.59 | If it is necessary to remove items from the house, do so with consideration for the parents. Explain that it may help to find out why their child has died. Ask the parents if they want the items returned. |
8.43.60 | Record any environmental features which may indicate neglect or could have contributed to the death such as temperature of scene, condition of accommodation, general hygiene and the availability of food/drink. |
8.43.61 | At home, unless the death is clearly unnatural, there is no reason why parents cannot hold their dead child. This should however take place under the discreet observation of a police officer. |
8.43.62 | Offer to contact friends or relatives who might support parents, and employers to explain absence. |
Other Issues | |
8.43.63 | A G5 (Report of Death Form) must be completed at an early stage. This will be completed by the Coroner's Officer if they are in attendance. However, in order to avoid delay, it may be appropriate for the police officer present to complete the form. |
8.43.64 | Questions regarding the child's recent health can be recorded on the G5 under the appropriate heading. These questions should include the basic medical history of the child and family. Other relevant details which are thought to be pertinent to the child's death should also be included, an example of this could be when the child was last fed. |
8.43.65 | The issues of the continuity of identification must be considered. This will preferably be done by the Coroner's Officer but could be done by a police officer and should be carried out appropriately and sensitively. |
Away from the scene* | |
8.43.66 | Normally the Ambulance Service will transport a child's body from the scene to an A&E department. However, on rare occasions this may not occur, and the child's body may be taken to a mortuary. This could be appropriate in circumstances where an older child has died (16-18) and it is clear what the cause of death is likely to be, for example suicide by hanging. |
8.43.67 | Any decision to take a body directly to a hospital or a mortuary, must only be made following a discussion with a consultant paediatrician in order to consider the need for an examination of the body, what tests should be arranged, and for medical information to be collated. However, where the cause of death appears explained, for example, following a road traffic collision, or where a Home Office pathologist has examined a body prior to arrival at the hospital, the examination and collection of samples by a paediatrician is unlikely to be necessary. |
8.43.68 | If the parents/carers wish to accompany the child's body from the home to the hospital, then this should be facilitated, unless the death is viewed as unnatural. Ensure that they are accompanied by police or coroner's officer. On those occasions a parent/carer may insist on physically holding the child whilst going to the hospital again this should be allowed, but they must be in car under the control of a police officer. |
8.43.69 | Police officers need to be aware of other professionals' responsibilities, i.e. resuscitation attempts, taking details from the parents, examination of the dead child and looking after the welfare needs of the family. Officers may need to wait until some of these things have happened and take details from these professionals before being introduced to the parents. This is where liaison and joint working is essential as there may be urgent evidential reasons why the police need to take immediate action. It is strongly advised that the Safeguarding Investigations Unit is utilised for such liaison wherever possible. |
Subsequent Actions | |
8.43.70 | Continue to maintain contact with the family and keep them informed of any developments. |
Joint home visit (See Early Joint Home Visit for Unexpected Deaths of Young Children) | |
8.43.71 | Following the unexpected and unexplained death of a young child under 2 years, all families should be visited at home within 24-48 hours by a paediatrician or other health professional, together with the police officer responsible for investigating the child's death or their representative. The purpose is to gather more information about the child, family and circumstances of death and to offer initial support. The police are responsible for contacting a local paediatrician to arrange this visit. |
8.43.72 | Where the unexpected death of a child under 2 is explained following initial enquiries, or the child is older than 2 years, a joint visit may not be done routinely, but may be considered. In all cases the need for any joint visit must be discussed with the consultant paediatrician, usually at the immediate information sharing and planning discussion. |
Immediate information sharing and planning discussion (See Inter-Agency Working, Immediate Information Sharing and Planning Discussion) | |
8.43.73 | When a child dies unexpectedly the police should initiate an immediate information sharing and planning discussion between lead agencies (i.e. health, police and children's social care) to decide what should happen next and who will do what. This discussion will normally be arranged by the Safeguarding Investigations Unit DS, so it is important that they are informed about all unexpected deaths of children at the earliest opportunity. |
Early case discussion (See Early Case Discussion section above) | |
8.43.74 | A multi-agency case discussion will be convened by children's social care as soon as the initial post-mortem result is known to share information relevant to the investigation of the death, and plan support of the parents. The police officer responsible for investigating the child's death or their representative must be present at this meeting. |
Late inter-agency case discussion (See Late Multi-Agency Case Discussion section above) | |
8.43.75 | As soon as the final post-mortem result is available a further inter-agency meeting should be held to review the findings of the post-mortem report and any other information gained about the child, their family and the circumstances leading to the death. When appropriate, this meeting will mark the closure of the investigation into the child's death. |
8.43.76 | This meeting should be arranged by the children's social care. The precise timing will depend on the progress of the police/coroners investigations. |
8.43.77 | This meeting should include the paediatrician involved, the GP, health visitor, coroner's officer, other relevant health professionals, children's social care, police and any other appropriate agencies. |
Retained items | |
8.43.78 | When enquiries are completed, and unless they are required to be retained for any inquest, at the earliest opportunity, any articles taken from the scene that the family wish to retain should be returned to them. |
8.43.79 | Ensure that all police documentation is removed, and that the property is returned in new and appropriate bagging. Appropriate bags are retained in the Safeguarding Investigations Unit offices. If soiled articles were taken, ask the parents about their return, and if they would like them to be cleaned. If so, arrange for any items to be cleaned before their return, but remember that some parents do not want items cleaned prior to their return. |
8.43.80 | Always make an appointment with the parents to return any property, and remember this could be a significant event for them. |
Always make an appointment with the parents to return any property, and remember this could be a significant event for them. | |
8.43.81 | Ensure all the relevant documentation is contained in the C5 family file, which should be clearly marked "child death in family". An overview report concerning the investigation must be completed by the Safeguarding Investigations Unit DS, and submitted to the SIU DI. |
Ambulance StaffIntroduction | |
8.43.82 | Attending the unexpected death of a child or baby will always be a difficult incident to manage. The situation will be highly charged and emotionally stressful so it is important that all practitioners who may come across this scenario are confident about what to do. |
Response | |
8.43.83 | The ambulance service communication centre will immediately notify the police control room when there is a call to the scene of an unexpected child death. |
8.43.84 | The recording of the initial call to the ambulance service should be retained in case it is required for evidential purposes. |
8.43.85 | Ambulance staff should follow the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee Guidelines and the South East Coast Ambulance Service Child Protection Procedures. |
8.43.86 |
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8.43.87 | Any suspicions should be reported directly to the police and the receiving doctor at the hospital as soon as possible. |
8.43.88 | *All children who suffer cardiac and respiratory arrest must be taken to hospital, this will not be a difficult decision on most occasions as the child or baby will be actively resuscitated. However, there are some occasions, although extremely rare, when the decision is made not to resuscitate, historically these cases have been left at home, it is vital that now, even these cases are transported to hospital This does not mean that resuscitation should be undertaken just to facilitate transport. |
8.43.89 | The reason for this is to enable the process for investigating the cause of death to start as soon as possible after the event. It has been shown that cell and tissue deterioration occurs extremely quickly in children and this can have a dramatic effect on whether a definitive cause of death can be found. This, of course, must be dealt with as sensitively as possible. |
8.43.90 | In these circumstances the crew should:
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8.43.91 | Parents have the right to find out what has caused their child to die and getting the investigation underway as soon as possible will give them the best chance of getting that answer. |
8.43.92 | The only exceptions to the above would be when the death has occurred following planned end of life or palliative care, or when the cause of death is very obvious such as in the case of severe trauma. Under these circumstances transfer to local mortuaries (under the direction of the police) or leaving the patient at home will remain the appropriate course of action. |
General Practitioners | |
8.43.93 | There are times when a GP is called to the child first. In such circumstances the GP should adhere to the same general principles as the ambulance staff (see above). |
8.43.94 | It is essential for the GP to contact the police or Coroner's officer if they are the first on the scene, after taking into account their primary responsibility of saving life or declaring death. The best route is the Police Call Centre. |
8.43.95 | A GP may not issue the death certificate in these circumstances. Children who have died without explanation should be seen in the Accident and Emergency Department by a paediatrician and not sent directly to the mortuary. This enables the clinical history, examination and any initial investigations to be completed and information given to parents. |
Hospital Staff | |
8.43.96 | Ensure that the child is taken to the appropriate area of the Accident and Emergency Department even if they appear to have been dead for some time. The child should not be taken straight to the mortuary. |
8.43.97 | Call the duty consultant paediatrician and the resuscitation team. Find out the identity of the people with the child and their relationship to the child. Use the child's first name. |
8.43.98 | Allocate a nurse to look after the family to keep them informed about what is happening. The nurse should record any medical or other information they obtain. |
History and Examination
8.43.99 | A detailed history and examination are extremely important in the process of trying to identify the cause of death. Appendix 1: Unexpected Death of a Child Clinical and Social Information provides a pro-forma. |
8.43.100 | A paediatrician should record a detailed verbatim history of events leading up to the death, past and recent symptoms, any resuscitation attempts at home and any family history of childhood deaths or serious illness. |
8.43.101 | A full examination should be undertaken by a paediatrician and a careful record of any findings made on a body chart, including:
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Recommended Medical Investigations
8.43.102 | During attempted resuscitation, various investigations may be initiated including urea and electrolytes, full blood count, blood sugar, blood culture and gases, blood, and urine for metabolic studies. | ||
8.43.103 | After death:
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8.43.104 | Routine minimum samples to be taken immediately after Sudden Unexpected Deaths in children under 2 years - 2004 National Working Party Recommendations1 Take blood from a venous / arterial site if possible e.g. femoral vein. Cardiac puncture can make PM findings difficult to interpret | ||
8.43.105 | |||
Delays can compromise or invalidate cultures and metabolic tests | |||
8.43.106 | Virology samples must be sent to an appropriate laboratory. | ||
8.43.107 | Skin biopsy for fibroblast culture should be taken routinely (See Appendix 1: Unexpected Death of a Child Clinical and Social Information). | ||
8.43.108 |
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8.43.109 | The following guidance about medical investigations following the death of an older child has been given by the Depts of Histopathology Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital and of Paediatric Metabolic Medicine Guy's Hospital 2009. | ||
8.43.110 |
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8.43.111 | If the post mortem is to take place within 24 hours of death, arrangements can be made by the paediatrician for samples to be taken by the pathologist. |
Skeletal Survey
8.43.112 | A full skeletal survey will be arranged at post mortem. However, consideration should always be given to undertaking a full skeletal survey before the post mortem if there is particular concern that the death of a young child may have unnatural causes. An urgent opinion from a specialist radiologist is then appropriate. Abnormal findings may affect the management of any siblings, and the required investigations. Individual Coroners have made their own arrangements for local skeletal surveys. |
8.43.113 | For all children keep all clothing removed from the child in labelled specimen bags and give to the senior police officer. The clothing may assist the pathologist and occasionally be required for forensic examination. Clothing may not be returned to the parents until the Coroner agrees. |
8.43.114 | The child's body should not be washed or cleaned as this may interfere with the pathologist's investigation. How well the baby has been cared for and the presence of secretions or substances on the face may be important. |
Mementos
8.43.115 | Mementos should be offered routinely. If there are marks on the child's body which might be masked by taking mementos these areas must be avoided. Details must be sent to the pathologist (e.g. lock of hair cut or palm or sole prints taken). If mementos are not taken in A&E the Coroner's officer should be notified and a request made for them to arrange these after the post mortem. |
Speaking to the Coroner
8.43.116 | The doctor who declares death cannot issue a death certificate and must inform the Coroner or Coroners' Officer about the death. |
Information for the Pathologist
8.43.117 | The paediatrician should send the pathologist details of the child's recent and past medical history, resuscitation attempts at home and hospital including needle sites, any physical findings and any investigations. A pro-forma for this is available in Appendix 1: Unexpected Death of a Child Clinical and Social Information. A copy of this should also be sent to the Coroner. |
Check if child is known to children's social care | |
8.43.118 | The Accident and Emergency department should check if any of the family are known to children's social care. |
Care of the Family and Follow up by Hospital
8.43.119 | A member of staff should keep the parents informed about what is happening. |
8.43.120 | When the child has been pronounced dead, the paediatrician should break the news to the parents and review the child's history. The paediatrician should explain that investigations will be done into possible medical causes of the death, that the Police and Coroner also have to investigate the death, and that the Coroner will order a post mortem by a pathologist with special expertise. |
8.43.121 | Parents should be informed that sometimes there is a delay of several days before the post mortem and that their child may need to be transferred to another hospital for this. They should be told that the Coroner's Officer is the Coroner's representative and will keep them informed. Parents should be given a copy of the DoH leaflet on post-mortems. They need to know that a police officer and paediatrician or other heath professional will visit at home. |
8.43.122 | Parents should be encouraged to hold and spend time with their baby/child. If resuscitation has been attempted, intravenous and intra-arterial lines and endotracheal tube should be removed (checking the tube had been correctly placed). Professional presence should be discreet during parents' time with their child. |
8.43.123 | Accident and Emergency staff will discuss how the parents are getting home and will inform all relevant professionals and agencies about the death, (i.e. GP, health visitor, records departments etc) and discuss contacting friends, family, employers etc. |
Follow up by paediatrician | |
8.43.124 | After the unexpected death of a young child an early joint home visit by a consultant paediatrician or designated nurse and a police officer will be organised by the police. See Inter-Agency Working. The aim is to review the medical history and circumstances of the death, address parents' early questions, establish future communication with them and identify sources of support. |
8.43.125 | The paediatrician should inform the GP and health visitor about their involvement and follow up plan. |
Post Mortem Results | |
8.43.126 | The Coroner's Officer will provide the consultant paediatrician with preliminary post mortem results. They will send them a copy of the final post-mortem report together with confirmation from the Coroner that they can discuss this with the family. The paediatrician may have to contact the Coroner's Officer to request these. |
8.43.127 | Immediate information sharing and planning discussion (see Inter-Agency Working, Immediate Information Sharing and Planning Discussion). |
8.43.128 | Early case discussion (see above) |
Late inter-agency case discussion | |
8.43.129 | As soon as the final post-mortem result is available, children's social care will arrange a further inter-agency case discussion including the GP, health visitor, paediatrician, police and other relevant professionals to review the outcome of the investigation and follow up. See Inter-Agency Working. |
8.43.130 | The paediatrician is responsible for chairing the meeting and producing a summary for all the agencies. The paediatrician should advise the family about any further investigations for metabolic or genetic conditions in surviving or future children. |
If Child is taken Direct to Mortuary | |
8.43.131 | Any child whose death is unexpected should be taken to the Accident and Emergency Department to confirm that no resuscitation is possible and to address medical, child protection and bereavement issues. If, for some reason, a child's body is taken directly to the mortuary, the mortuary will inform the police. |
8.43.132 | The Safeguarding Investigations Unit will then be informed and will contact the duty consultant paediatrician. |
8.43.133 | The paediatrician's role includes taking a full medical history and if possible, conducting a brief clinical examination and arranging any appropriate initial investigations and an early joint home visit. The aim is to help identify at an early stage possible underlying medical conditions or child protection concerns. |
Acute Life Threatening Event
8.43.134 | Most acute life threatening events have a medical or physiological basis, although a precise explanation is not always found. Some have unnatural causes and assessment should always include consideration of these through careful history taking, examination and investigation similar to the list for unexplained deaths. |
8.43.135 | Child protection checks must be initiated for the child and any siblings. Any suspicions must be reported immediately to the duty social worker. |
Post-mortem, Pathologist and Coroner
8.43.136 | If there are no suspicious circumstances, after an evaluation of initial information; from the ambulance service, hospital and previous records, primary care, police and children's social care records - the post-mortem should be conducted by a pathologist with special expertise in paediatric pathology. If possible the post-mortem should be completed within 48 hours of the infant's death. If during the post-mortem the pathologist becomes at all concerned that there may be suspicious circumstances, they must halt the post-mortem and inform the Coroner. |
8.43.137 | If the Coroner has any concerns, having been made aware of all the facts, that the death may be of suspicious nature, then a Home Office pathologist will be used in conjunction with a paediatric pathologist. Where a pathologist is qualified both as a forensic and paediatric pathologist they may complete the post-mortem on their own. |
8.43.138 | Both the Coroner and the pathologist must be provided with a full history at the earliest possible stage. This will include a full medical history from the paediatrician, any relevant background information concerning the child and the family and any concerns raised by any agency. The Investigating Officer is responsible for ensuring that this is done. A pro-forma is available for the paediatrician. The medical notes will also usually be sent/taken to the pathologist by the police officer attending the post-mortem. |
8.43.139 | The Coroner's Officer should inform all relevant professionals of the time and place of the post-mortem, including the Senior Investigating Police Officer and consultant paediatrician. The family should also be informed. |
8.43.140 | The Investigating Officer should attend the post-mortem. If this is not possible, then he/she must send a representative who is aware of all of the facts of the case. A full Scenes of Crime Officer team, including a photographer, must attend all post-mortems conducted by a Home Office pathologist. |
8.43.141 | A number of investigations will be arranged by the Pathologist at post-mortem. If the paediatrician has arranged any medical investigations before or after death, the pathologist and Coroner must be informed and the results forwarded. |
8.43.142 | All professionals must endeavour to conclude their investigations expeditiously. This should include the post-mortem results such as histology. The funeral of the dead infant must not be delayed unnecessarily. |
8.43.143 | The interim or final findings of the post-mortem should be provided immediately after the post-mortem examination is completed. The interim result may well be "awaiting histology/ virology/ toxicology" etc. |
8.43.144 | The final result must be notified in writing to the Coroner as soon as it is known. The final report should then be sent to the Coroner within seven to fourteen days of the final result being known. |
8.43.145 | When a Home Office Pathologist has been used, the pathologist should provide an interim report within two working days of the post-mortem, either orally or in pro-forma. A full written report should be provided to the Investigating Officer, normally via the Coroner, within 15 days or receipt of the exhibited photographs. Where the scientific examination extends beyond 20 days of the post-mortem, the Investigating Officer should be informed. |
8.43.146 | The Coroner's Officer will arrange the release of a copy of the report to the paediatrician, A&E consultant, and police with the permission of the Coroner. In cases where an inquest is to be held, the Coroner may not be prepared to release a copy of the report until the Inquest is concluded. |
8.43.147 | The Investigating Officer should ensure that a copy is forwarded to the Safeguarding Investigations Unit for inclusion on file for future reference. The report must not be shared with other agencies without the permission of the Coroner. |
Other sources of information | |
8.43.148 | Leaflets When a baby dies suddenly and unexpectedly Download from www.lullabytrust.org.uk The Lullaby Trust |
8.43.149 | A guide to the post mortem examination procedure involving a baby or child - Department of Health Publications |
8.43.150 | Memory folder |
The Lullaby Trust
8.43.151 | The Lullaby Trust has a 24 hour helpline offering support and information to anyone who has suffered the sudden death of an infant. |
8.43.152 | The helpline is also available for family and friends and those professionals involved with the death. The telephone advisors personally answer the telephone every day of the year. |
8.43.153 | The Foundation has a wide range of leaflets and information for bereaved families and professionals. It also has a network of befrienders who are previously bereaved parents. Arrangements can be made for a befriender to contact the bereaved family to offer additional support. |
8.43.154 | Address: 11 Belgrave Road Helpline: 0808 802 6828 Email: office@lullabytrust.org.uk Website: www.lullabytrust.org.uk |
Appendix 1: Unexpected Death of a Child Clinical and Social Information


