Last updated:  April 2008

Henry M. Nields, MD, PhD
Acting Chief Medical Examiner
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
720 Albany Street
Boston, MA 02118
Phone:  (617) 267-6767
Fax:  (617) 267-4931

Tools

• Massachusetts Child Death Review Legislation

• 3rd Annual Report of Massachusetts Child Fatality Review Program

Mortality Statistics

• Massachusetts Child Mortality Data, 2002
• Massachusetts Child Mortality Data, 2003
• Massachusetts Child Mortality Data, 2005

Administration
The Massachusetts CDR program was established by statute (Section 2A-3) in 2000. It is currently funded by the MCH Block grant and the EMS for Children grant.  The program is housed out of the health department. The program does not have any staff dedicated on the local or state level.   There are three Department of Public Health employees that are in-kind.

Along with the CDR program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health also administers the EMS for Children project. 

Teams
Massachusetts has both state and local teams which are mandatory.  State statute defines team membership at both the local and state level but does not limit it.  Massachusetts is a member of the New England Regional CDR Coalition. 

State Team Chairperson: Richard Evans, MD, Chief Medical Examiner
According to statute, the state team falls under the jurisdiction of the state medical examiner.  The team is comprised of 25 members and meets quarterly. 

Local Teams:
According to statute, the local teams fall under the jurisdiction of the District Attorney Offices.  There are 11 teams, each comprised of 10-20 members.  The teams are mandated to meet at least quarterly, the larger districts meet more frequently. 

The local recommendations are forwarded to the state team.

Reviews
The Massachusetts CDR team reviews deaths to children under the age of 18.  Some of the larger teams do not review deaths of premature infants.   There are three Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) in the state that examine many of these cases.

Purpose
The purpose of the Massachusetts CDR program is prevention, investigation, to facilitate interagency networking and collaboration and to produce recommendations for changes that will protect the health and safety of children. The program has always had a focus on public health. 

Data
Standardized data reporting forms are completed for all reviews. This is not a required practice, but all local teams are very interested in collecting and having access to data.  The data is stored with the local teams, as the operational details of the data collection system are still being worked out. Analysis of the data is not yet complete.

Massachusetts CDR has access to state vital statistics and uses the information in preparing an annual report. Additionally, the Office of Vital Statistics sends copies of death certificates to the State Medical Examiner Office which then forwards them to the local teams.  The health department has a computer system that contains all death certificates.  This system also notifies teams of all deaths, resident and non-resident.

Annual Report
Massachusetts does produce an annual report. The report is distributed to state and local team members, legislators, interested parties, EMS providers and public health officials.

Prevention Initiatives
CDR is currently working on developing infant/child death scene investigation protocols and safe sleep materials.

Protocols
Massachusetts has a optional letter for local teams to use in requesting information for the review process.

Training
Massachusetts CDR does provide training. EMS-C has temporarily made funding available for annual meetings. Future trainings are scheduled to take place at the annual meetings.