The state medical examiner's office will be responsible for the
collection of data for sudden unexpected or nonnatural deaths for all children
under the age of 18 years that occur in the state of Iowa. The state medical
examiner's office will review all child deaths in Iowa and will refer those
deemed preventable for additional review by the child death review team. The
state medical examiner's office will be responsible for data entry. The team
shall perform the following responsibilities:
(1) Collect, review, and analyze child death
certificates and child death data, including patient records, other pertinent
confidential information, and other information the review team deems
appropriate concerning deaths of children under 18 years of age which have been
deemed preventable by the state medical examiner's office. An annual report
will be prepared for the governor and the general assembly concerning the cause
and manner of child deaths. The report shall include factual information
obtained through review and recommendations regarding prevention of child
deaths.
(2) Recommend to the
governor and the general assembly interventions to prevent deaths of children
based on an analysis of the cause and manner of such deaths.
(3) Recommend to the agencies represented on
the review team and to other agencies changes which may prevent child
deaths.
(4) Maintain the
confidentiality of any patient records or other confidential information
reviewed.
(5) If deemed appropriate
by the team at any point in the review, the team may recommend to the
department of human services, appropriate law enforcement agencies, and any
person involved with child protection interventions that may prevent harm to a
child who is related to or is living in the same home as a child whose case is
reviewed by the team.
(6) Develop
protocols for a child fatality review committee (see 641-Chapter 92) to be
appointed by the state medical examiner on an ad hoc basis to immediately
review the child abuse assessments which involve the fatality of a child under
the age of 18 years. The state medical examiner shall appoint a medical
examiner, a pediatrician, and a person involved with law enforcement to the
committee.
(7) The team may
establish subcommittees to which the team may delegate some or all of the
team's responsibilities set out in this rule.