Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the main cause of death among babies in the Western world between the ages of eight days and one year. In a clinical presentation on “Infant Deaths in Israel: SIDS and Other Causes of Death,” Dr. Eli Eisenstein of the Department of Pediatrics at Hadassah-Mt. Scopus stated that “Although the causes of death of healthy infants are unknown, they can be found. It is important to ascertain these causes to save future lives. There are still numerous cases of deaths from an unknown cause and each should be properly examined.”
He noted that “placing babies on their backs [rather than their stomachs] has significantly decreased the infant mortality rate in Israel,” proving that preventive action can be effective.
Describing the potential and limits of post-mortem imaging using CT or MRI scanning as a substitute for a conventional autopsy, Dr. Eisenstein urged that current regulations be revised to include a forensic autopsy in SIDS cases. He based his conclusion on research he and other Hadassah doctors conducted in collaboration with other Jerusalem hospitals. Of the 100 infants' deaths of an unknown cause they examined, only one forensic autopsy was performed, and in no instance was the death site examined by medical personnel.
“Deciding which tests should be performed and under which circumstances is a complex issue. We strongly think that these answers should be determined by religious and legal experts,” he said.
At the Clinical Conference at Hadassah, Rabbi David Stav of Shoham described the Jewish approach to autopsy, and Muhammed Zibdeh, the Kadi of Jaffa and former Kadi of Jerusalem, explained the Muslim approach. From their presentations, it appears that both religions mandate an obligation to honor the dead, but allow autopsies in cases that might save lives or when a crime is suspected.
The Clinical Conference at Hadassah is a weekly one-hour event where a department of the Medical Center presents aspects of its recent work or activity.