Care of relatives following sudden infant death

Saternus, K.-S.; Helmerichs, J.; Walter-Humke, S.; Klostermann, P.; Krauß, T.; Kernbach-Wighton, G.

doi:10.1016/j.jcfm.2006.10.011

« Previous Next »Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 6 , Pages 343-347, August 2007

Care of relatives following sudden infant death

K.-S. Saternus, MD, PhD (Professor of Forensic Medicine)
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Georg-August-University, D 37073 Göttingen, Germany
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 551 394942; fax: +49 551 394986.
J. Helmerichs, PhD
- Academy for Crisis Management, Accident Planning, and Civil Defence, D 53474 Bad Neuenahr, Germany
S. Walter-Humke, PhD
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Georg-August-University, D 37073 Göttingen, Germany
P. Klostermann, PhD
- Institute of Legal Medicine, FU Berlin, D 14195 Berlin, Germany
T. Krauß, MD, PhD (Professor of Gynecology)
- Klinikum Lippe Lemgo, D 32657 Lemgo, Germany
G. Kernbach-Wighton, MD, PhD (Professor of Forensic Medicine)
- Forensic Medicine Section, Division of Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, United Kingdom

Received 8 September 2005; received in revised form 21 September 2006; accepted 30 October 2006.

Abstract

This paper deals with 301 families who have been offered a consultation for managing bereavement following sudden infant death. Eighty-eight percent of the parents (269 families) accepted and 36 more families outwith Lower Saxony wished to be cared for. Without a previous autopsy 1.172 contacts happened from 1989 to 2003 comprising primary crisis intervention and long-term care, the latter including saying farewell before and after autopsy. One main aim was a close linking with the international self-help organization of parents (GEPS). Single cases conferences were carried out for more than five years according to the Sheffield model. There is given the methodical basis and many details of the care project.

Keywords: Relief from guilt, Primary crisis intervention, Long-term care