KRS 213.161: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Program -- Collection of a tissue sample

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 sy ndrome, 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 throug hout 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 occurrenc e 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 ph ysicians, 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.