In the 1980s, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Norway made up half of all post-neonatal deaths, and more than 80% of all sudden unexpected deaths during the first year after birth. As in most Western countries, the rate of SIDS in Scandinavian countries dropped dramatically after 1990 (the era of safe sleep campaigns). Before 1990 the police attended the death scene following a sudden death in an infant, as in all other cases of sudden unexpected deaths, regardless of age. Due to massive criticisms from parents who felt incriminated, the Prosecutor General in 1991 withdrew the police from the scene of death in infants. Since the diagnosis of SIDS requires performance of a death scene investigation, an initiative was necessary. This chapter discusses SIDS in Scandinavia and the issues faced regarding death scene investigations.
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