Can baby organs be donated in all forensic cases? Proposed guidelines for organ donation from infants under medical examiner jurisdiction.

Donated organs from babies are desperately needed for transplantation into sick and dying children. Categories of infant death subject to medicolegal death investigation are proposed and discussed, with a rationale for decision making by medical examiners and their colleagues. Appropriate caution is warranted in some instances with investigation for possible criminal intent emphasized. Mutual cooperation with all parties must be fostered to assure organ donation from infants whenever possible.