S-0966.2          _______________________________________________

 

                                 SENATE BILL 5542

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Senator Roach.

 

Read first time February 6, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.Requiring autopsies for suspected SIDS deaths.


     AN ACT Relating to sudden infant death syndrome; adding a new section to chapter 68.50 RCW; and creating a new section.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.      The legislature finds and declares that sudden infant death syndrome is the leading cause of death for children under age one, striking one out of every five hundred children.  The legislature finds and declares that sudden infant death syndrome is a serious problem within the state of Washington, and that public interest is served by research and study of the potential causes and indications of sudden infant death syndrome and the prevention of inaccurate designation of sudden infant death syndrome as a cause of death.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 68.50 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) For purposes of this section, "sudden infant death syndrome" means the sudden death of any infant that is unexpected by the history of the infant and where a thorough postmortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause of death.

     (2) The coroner or medical examiner shall, within twenty-four hours, or as soon thereafter as feasible, perform an autopsy in any case where an infant has died suddenly and unexpectedly, and is suspected to have died as a result of sudden infant death syndrome.

     (3) A coroner or medical examiner shall not be liable for damages in a civil action for any act or omission done in compliance with this section.

     (4) Consent is not required before undertaking the autopsy required under this section.