Multiple sudden infant deaths – coincidence or beyond coincidence?
- HILL, RAY
aUniversity of Salford, Salford, UK
Correspondence: Ray Hill, Professor of Mathematics, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK. E-mail: [email protected]
Editor's note Whilst ‘Meadow's Law’ is quoted frequently in the UK, I am grateful to Dr Glynn Walters for pointing out the following:
‘Professor Meadow did not originate the law. It appears to be attributable to D.J. and V.J.M. Di Maio, two American pathologists who state in their book:
It is the authors' opinion that while a second SIDS death from a mother is improbable, it is possible and she should be given the benefit of the doubt. A third case, in our opinion, is not possible and is a case of homicide.
It is clear that the statement is the authors' opinion. It is not a conclusion reached by analysis of their observations; no supportive data are presented and there are no illustrative case histories, or references to earlier publications. This is in striking contrast with the rest of the book which is replete with illustrative case histories and cites many references throughout. A recent examination of Meadow's own contributions to the medical literature has likewise failed to uncover supportive pathological evidence or references to it.’
