Abstract â–¡ 11

The definition of SIDS in the United States of America (USA) is "The sudden and unexpected death of an infant (one year old or less) which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene and review of the clinical history". This definition establishes the diagnostic criteria for SIDS.

SIDS is a designated diagnosis, i.e., the diagnostic criteria are established, but no specific diagnostic "test" is available. In contrast, a specific diagnosis has both criteria and a diagnostic "test".

Examples of designated diagnoses are accidental asphyxia (overlaying), intentional asphyxia (infanticide) and SIDS. The former two diagnoses are unnatural deaths that raise legal issues, i.e., insurance and prosecution. The latter is a natural cause of death. The separation of these designated diagnoses can be difficult problem that often relies upon interpretation of the circumstances of death by the pathologist. An attempt to standardize a diagnostic approach to these problems would be helpful to medical examiners/coroners, pathologists, clinicians and the family.