It is the stated intent of the Legislature to encourage child death reviews by local health departments so that preventable causes of child mortality can be identified and addressed in order to reduce the infant and child mortality rate in Washington State.
A child fatality review is a process authorized by a local health department for examining factors that contribute to the deaths of children. The process may include a systematic review of medical, clinical, and hospital records, home interviews of parents and caretakers of children who have died, analysis of individual case information, and a review of this information by a team of professionals in order to identify modifiable medical, socioeconomic, public health, behavioral, administrative, educational and environmental factors associated with each death.
All information collected in a child mortality review is confidential; no identifying information related to the deceased child, the child's guardians, or anyone interviewed as part of the child mortality review may be disclosed. Identifying information is to be redacted from any records produced as part of the view. However, local health departments may publish statistical compilations and reports related to the child mortality review without identifying individual cases and sources of information.
A person is not prohibited or restricted from reporting suspected child abuse or neglect, nor does it limit access to any records or information arising out of such a report and ensuing action.
The Department of Health (DOH) is to assist local health departments collect the reports of any child mortality reviews, assist with entering the reports into a database, provide technical assistance and encourage communication among child death review teams using only federal and private funding.
Local health departments and DOH may retain identifiable and geographic information on each case for the purpose of determining trends, performing analysis over time, and for quality improvement efforts.
When reviews identify suspected child abuse or neglect the review team is to designate a team member to make a report to law enforcement and other appropriate agencies. This does not impose the duty of being a mandated reporter.
To aid in a child fatality review, the local health department may:
Upon request by the local health department, health care providers, health care facilities, clinics, schools, criminal justice, law enforcement, laboratories, medical examiners, coroners, professions and facilities licensed by DOH, local health departments, the Health Care Authority and its licensees and providers, DSHS and its licensees and providers, DCYF and its licensees and providers must all provide all medical records related to the child, autopsy reports, medical examiner reports, coroner reports, social services records, and other data requested for specific child fatality review to the local health department.
Information submitted to DOH is not subject to public disclosure, discovery, subpoena, or introduction into evidence in any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding related to the death of a child reviewed.
Language limiting DOH to provide assistance to local health departments in entering reports into a database, providing technical assistance, and encourage communication among child fatality review teams using only federal and private funding is struck.
DOH or local health departments may use these reports, including statistical compilations, in the development and coordination of statewide child fatality prevention strategies and interventions.
Child mortality reviews are renamed child fatality reviews. References to mortality and death are changed to fatality.