Child neglect or tragic misadventure?
The body of a 2-month-old baby was found inside the pram where he had been left overnight. Initial assessment of the event by a paramedic unit seemed to indicate foul play, based on the presence of a prominent linear pressure mark on the child's scalp and face. Thorough police and medicolegal investigation cleared the suspect and disclosed that the death resulted from accidental positional asphyxia, related to a faulty mechanism of the pram. We advise that when examining sudden unexpected death of children, forensic investigators should be aware of the potential hazards associated with baby accessories.
Hiss
J
J
The National Centre of Forensic Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Leifer
A
A
Kahana
T
T