213.161 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Program -- Collection of a tissue sample
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/ky/213-161A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
during autopsy, conditions.
(1)In order to obtain information which may be useful to research organizations
studying the causes and incidence of the sudden infant death syndrome, a program
is hereby established in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The purpose of
this program shall be to obtain factual information concerning the characteristics,
incidence, and distribution of the sudden infant death syndrome throughout the
Commonwealth and to provide a means of public education concerning any
research findings which may lead to the possible means of prevention, early
identification, and treatment of children susceptible to the sudden infant death
syndrome.
(2)In instances where an ostensibly healthy child dies suddenly and unexpectedly with
no known or apparent cause as determined by a physician or a coroner, an autopsy
with the written approval of the parents or legal guardian of the child shall be
performed within forty-eight
(48)hours and the results reported to the cabinet and
to the parents or legal guardian of the child.
(3)At the request of the parent or legal guardian of a child who has died under
circumstances described in subsection
(2)of this section or in the case of the death
of any child, a tissue sample may be collected during the autopsy of the child's body
and shared for research purposes, assuming the tissue harvest will not interfere with
the determination of the cause and manner of death.
(4)In order to implement the provisions of this section, the secretary of the Cabinet for
Health and Family Services shall:
(a)Promulgate administrative regulations as may be necessary in order to obtain
in proper form all information relating to the occurrence of sudden infant
deaths which is relevant and appropriate for the establishment of a reliable
statistical index of the incidence, distribution, and characteristics of cases of
the sudden infant death syndrome;
(b)Collect such factual information from physicians, coroners, medical
examiners, hospitals, and public health officials who have examined any child
known or believed to have the sudden infant death syndrome;
(c)Make such factual information available to physicians, coroners, medical
examiners, hospitals, public health officials, and educational and institutional
organizations conducting research as to the causes and incidence of the sudden
infant death syndrome;
(d)Cause appropriate counseling services to be established and maintained for
families affected by the occurrence of the sudden infant death syndrome; and
(e)Conduct educational programs to inform the general public of any research
findings of educational and institutional organizations which may lead to the
possible means of prevention, early identification, and treatment of the sudden
infant death syndrome.