Between 1976 and 1978 a volunteer "family study questionnaire" was submitted to parents of multiples. Of the 1,263 families who responded, 69 families lost a twin or triplet to SIDS and in 3 of these cases a co-twin subsequently died of SIDS. The time interval between these SIDS deaths' was 26, 46, and 171 days (C.L.I.M.B).
Therefore, the rate of concordancy for losing a co-twin to SIDS, given that one twin has died of SIDS is 2.8 percent, meaning that 1 in every 125 families will experience the death of one twin to SIDS while 1 in every 4,460 families will experience the death of both twins to SIDS (Beal 1044).
The simultaneous death of both twins raises suspicion toward the parents or care givers. Dr. John E. Smialek, is considered to be a well-known expert in the studies of Simultaneous SIDS in twins. In his studies, he has encountered several cases of simultaneous SIDS as a respected Medical Examiner in the Baltimore, Maryland area. He has personally worked on 9 of these cases.
In Wayne County, Mi., two cases of simultaneous SIDS occurred within 5 years of each other. During the first case the death of the twins resulted in an atmosphere of intense suspicion of the parents that was verbalized by members of the medical community and other person who were unaware of this medical phenomenon. The twins' deaths were labeled as SIDS after intense investigations involving both local police agencies and the medical examiner.
After numerous tests came back negative, the cause of death was listed as SIDS (Smialek 817). When simultaneous twin deaths occurred in Detroit 5 years later, it was investigated in the same thorough manner but, with much less suspicion. Days after the second case was made public, calls were received from investigators in other states who had just completed investigations concerning the death of both twins. In all cases reported, the cause of death was determined to be SIDS (818).
Although SIDS is now widely accepted as a condition that parents have no power to predict or prevent, the occurrence of the simultaneous death of infant twins is a phenomenon that still evokes bewilderment and suspicion. This phenomenon has received little previous attention in the United States and also has been documented in Europe by researchers in Sweden, England, and Germany. It is unknown the exact number of both twins dying simultaneously world-wide but, a good estimate is approximately 60 infants or 30 pairs of twins who have died from this phenomenon. It is the very quality of being a twin which somehow or other is combined with a predisposition to sudden, unexplained death. (Smialek 816)
As a mother who has experienced the loss of both twins to SIDS, I feel the subject of twins and SIDS needs to be brought to the attention of medical personnel world-wide. Not only have my family and I been devastated by the loss of our healthy babies, we have endured intense suspicion in our community. Losing a child is probably the worst pain any person can endure and to be placed under suspicion severely hinders the healing process. Medical personnel and police investigators need to be aware that they are dealing with families who have suffered the pain of losing a child not only once but twice, and investigations need to be handled very carefully and with the utmost concern for the families.
