National Association of Medical Examiners Position Paper

The National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) convened a panel to create a position paper for the investigation of pediatric deaths due to suspected inflicted head trauma. The certification of both the cause and manner of death is dependent upon an evaluation of all available data including information derived from the investigation, scene, postmortem examination, and ancillary studies. This paper provides the forensic pathologist with a comprehensive review for the postmortem examination of infants and toddlers who have died or have apparently died of inflicted head trauma. Specifically, this paper describes (1) procedures, (2) ancillary laboratory tests, and (3) forms of documentation that may be important in the investigation of these deaths. Some of these techniques are highly specialized and are performed at the discretion of the prosector. The evaluation and documentation of such fatalities involves the production of a reviewable, objective data set to support the multitude of inquiries that may follow from the public and the criminal justice system.