Letter: Manual needed for infant death investigations

Monday, Sept. 11, 2006 | 7:29 a.m.

The Sept. 7 story by Abigail Goldman, "Investigating the unthinkable," discusses a new CDC investigation manual for national use when investigating sudden and unexplainable infant deaths. Until now, there has not been a specific procedure to follow when investigating these cases, which can lead to faulty assumptions.

I believe that creating a national manual for these sensitive cases is a must. Investigators must have strict guidelines when evaluating infant deaths. Jumping to hasty conclusions may not only skew statistics for infant deaths, but may also mistake a serious neglect situation with a case of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Investigators will now have to do a lengthy step-by-step procedure that may drastically reduce incorrect causes of death in infants.

A baby's death is one of the most sensitive cases and it is important that no corners are cut. Coroners, police organizations and child welfare agencies need to work together when "investigating the unthinkable," not on their own terms. With accurate training, this new manual will help make unexplained child deaths more accurate.

Brittany Lambert, Henderson