Investigating Infant and Child Deaths Flashcards
6 cards from real ABMDI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Investigating Infant and Child Deaths flashcards as text
SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death) investigations require a comprehensive scene response because:
Answer: Scene investigation provides critical data to distinguish SIDS from accidental suffocation, overlying, and non-accidental trauma
Scene investigation including sleep environment documentation is essential to differentiate SIDS from accidental suffocation, overlying, and inflicted injury.
When investigating a suspected SIDS death, the MDI should use which of the following standardized tools?
Answer: CDC's Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation (SUIDI) Reporting Form
The CDC's SUIDI Reporting Form provides a standardized, nationally validated tool for SUID scene investigations.
Which pattern of injury in an infant raises the strongest concern for non-accidental trauma (child abuse)?
Answer: Multiple bruises of varying ages on non-mobile areas, unexplained by the caregiver's history
Multiple bruises in non-mobile locations (torso, ears, neck, face in a non-mobile infant) of varying ages and unexplained by history are highly concerning for abuse.
Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) in infants may present with which autopsy finding?
Answer: Subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhages, and diffuse axonal injury without evidence of external impact
AHT classically presents with the triad of subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhages, and diffuse axonal injury, which may occur without visible external trauma.
In child fatality investigations, sentinel injuries refer to:
Answer: Minor injuries (bruising, oral frenulum tear) that preceded the fatal event and were not evaluated medically
Sentinel injuries are often minor, pre-existing injuries that preceded fatal abuse. Their presence suggests ongoing abuse that went unrecognized or unreported.
When investigating a child homicide, which additional resource team is commonly activated in many jurisdictions?
Answer: Child Death Review Team (CDRT) or Multidisciplinary Investigation Team (MDT)
Child Death Review Teams or Multidisciplinary Investigation Teams bring together law enforcement, child protective services, MDIs, and medical professionals to conduct coordinated investigations of child fatalities.