210.192. Child fatality review panel to investigate deaths--qualifications--prosecutors and circuit attorneys to organize--report on investigations--immunity from civil liability--program for preventi

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

210.192. Child fatality review panel to investigate deaths--qualifications--prosecutors and circuit attorneys to organize--report on investigations--immunity from civil liability--program for preventi

Child fatality review panel to investigatedeaths--qualifications--prosecutors and circuit attorneys toorganize--report on investigations--immunity from civilliability--program for prevention.

210.192. 1. The prosecuting attorney or the circuit attorney shallimpanel a child fatality review panel for the county or city not within acounty in which he or she serves to investigate the deaths of children underthe age of eighteen years, who are eligible to receive a certificate of livebirth. The panel shall be formed and shall operate according to the rules,guidelines and protocols provided by the department of social services.

2. The panel shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(1) The prosecuting or circuit attorney;

(2) The coroner or medical examiner for the county or city not within acounty;

(3) Law enforcement personnel in the county or city not within a county;

(4) A representative from the division of family services;

(5) A provider of public health care services;

(6) A representative of the juvenile court;

(7) A provider of emergency medical services.

3. The prosecuting or circuit attorney shall organize the panel andshall call the first organizational meeting of the panel. The panel shallelect a chairman who shall convene the panel to meet to review all deaths ofchildren under the age of eighteen years, who are eligible to receive acertificate of live birth, which meet guidelines for review as set forth bythe department of social services. In addition, the panel may review at itsown discretion any child death reported to it by the medical examiner orcoroner, even if it does not meet criteria for review as set forth by thedepartment. The panel shall issue a final report, which shall be a publicrecord, of each investigation to the department of social services, statetechnical assistance team and to the director of the department of health andsenior services. The final report shall include a completed summary reportform. The form shall be developed by the director of the department of socialservices in consultation with the director of the department of health andsenior services. The department of health and senior services shall analyzethe child fatality review panel reports and periodically prepareepidemiological reports which describe the incidence, causes, location andother factors pertaining to childhood deaths. The department of health andsenior services and department of social services shall make recommendationsand develop programs to prevent childhood injuries and deaths.

4. The child fatality review panel shall enjoy such official immunity asexists at common law.