The investigation of sudden or unexplained death of children represents a unique medical and forensic area of study. Children have unique anatomic and functional characteristics that must be recognized and understood by the medical investigator. Further complicating this process is the fact that the anatomic structure, composition and function of various organs and organ systems in the pediatric population change throughout the developmental stages of childhood. The disease processes, reactions to trauma and risk factors for accidental death and homicide change from infancy through adolescence. Forensic Pathology of Infancy and Childhood provides an authoritative, comprehensive reference text devoted to the medicolegal investigation of sudden unexpected death in children. With contributions from internationally renowned experts, individual chapters focus on specific unique causes and organ systems with detailed accounts of the changes in fatal diseases, risk factors of causes of sudden death, and responses to fatal trauma that occur as a child grows from neonatal stage through infancy, toddlerhood, childhood and adolescence. This text is an essential reference resource for forensic pathologists, medical examiner offices, pediatric pathologists, pediatric hospitals, anatomic pathologists and those in training as well as those in related legal professions.

This unique, comprehensive survey of virtually all aspects of sudden death in infants and childhood will be an essential source of reference for pathologists, clinicians and lawyers who deal with such cases. Individual sections deal in detail with deaths due to inflicted and non-inflicted injuries and to natural diseases. This new edition includes 1200 new references, 300 new illustrations and an extensively revised chapter on sudden infant death syndrome. The intentional injury chapter has additional material on head trauma, the biomechanics of injury, neonaticide, suicide and subtle and unusual trauma. The chapter on non-intentional injury has also been expanded to more accurately reflect its importance as a cause of death. Deaths in the first week of life are also covered. This new edition also covers the full range of natural causes of death, and their pathological investigation undertaken in light of advances in our understanding of genetic susceptibility and pathophysiology.

With more than 250 case studies and 740 photographs, Forensic Pathology of Child Death is an exhaustive reference for professionals and students in the fields of forensic pathology, pediatrics, law enforcement, social work, juvenile court, and child advocacy. Now, with this new atlas, Dr. Mary Case lends the full benefit of her experience to current and future practitioners in their efforts to investigate and prevent unnatural child death.

A scientifically rigorous, multidisciplinary approach to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, for practitioners, researchers and families alike.

This volume covers aspects of sudden infant and early childhood death, ranging from issues with parental grief, to the most recent theories of brainstem neurotransmitters. It also deals with the changes that have occurred over time with the definitions of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), SUDI (sudden unexpected death in infancy) and SUDIC (sudden unexpected death in childhood). The text will be indispensable for SIDS researchers, SIDS organisations, paediatric pathologists, forensic pathologists, paediatricians and families, in addition to residents in training programs that involve paediatrics. It will also be of use to other physicians, lawyers and law enforcement officials who deal with these cases, and should be a useful addition to all medical examiner/forensic, paediatric and pathology departments, hospital and university libraries on a global scale. Given the marked changes that have occurred in the epidemiology and understanding of SIDS and sudden death in the very young over the past decade, a text such as this is very timely and is also urgently needed.

This practical text guides the reader in infant and child death investigation from the moment the phone rings to the final signature on the death certificate. Using an easily understood conversational writing style, the text imparts up-to-date, practice-based information on approaches to death investigation, clarifying misunderstandings and supplementing training gaps. Chapters also impart personal experiences relating to policy, procedure, standards, and the anticipation of problems during death investigations. Interspersed throughout the text are procedural standards from the National Association of Medical Examiners and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as high-quality images and observations of effective administrative and management strategies for offices involved with death investigations. The book is packaged with a password, giving users online access to all text and images. Pearls and Pitfalls in Forensic Pathology: Infant and Child Death Investigation is an essential resource for medicolegal death investigators, coroners, medical examiners, forensic pathologists, forensic laboratorians and attorneys.