SENATE DOCKET, NO. 240        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 105

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Joan B. Lovely

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to supporting families dealing with sudden unexplained death in pediatrics.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Joan B. Lovely

Second Essex

 

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

3/23/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 240        FILED ON: 1/12/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 105

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 105) of Joan B. Lovely for legislation relative to supporting families dealing with sudden unexplained death in pediatrics.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 126 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act relative to supporting families dealing with sudden unexplained death in pediatrics.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 2A of chapter 38 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following paragraph:-

(h) In all cases of sudden unexpected death in pediatrics when autopsy is required by law, except in cases of (1) homicide, (2) suicide or (3) established cause, the office of the chief medical examiner shall, on behalf of the parents of the deceased, engage services including, but not limited to, genetic testing and ongoing bereavement support. The office of the chief medical examiner shall refer, as close to the time of incident as possible, but no longer than three days after receipt of the decedent, any undetermined death of a child three years of age or younger to the Massachusetts center for unexpected infant and child death at Boston Medical Center for counseling and grief support. These referrals shall include any suspected case of sudden infant death syndrome, sudden unexplained infant death, sudden unexpected death in childhood, sudden unexplained death in pediatrics or any sudden child death likely to remain unexplained by standard autopsy and investigation.