If there were a cavalry that rides to the rescue of grieving parents of infants who die suddenly and unexplainably, it would be in the unlikely form of Dr. Henry Krous, a pathologist and director of the San Diego SIDS Research Center.

Krous is often asked to review diagnoses by coroners and medical examiners that parents disbelieve.

Because of his reputation, local medical examiners often accept Krous' diagnoses and change death certificates to read: SIDS. Krous believes many medical authorities dislike the term SIDS and opt for the even more vague "cause unknown" diagnosis.

"But there is no substantial difference between SIDS and death by undetermined causes," he said. "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a tacit acknowledgement that we don't know the precise cause of death."

But SIDS is a comforting diagnosis for parents wracked by worry and guilt that their child's death may be their fault. Divorce, acts of violence and suicide are not uncommon in marriages struck by sudden infant death.

"We have a humane obligation to consider the parent's issues," he said. "We can do harm by using terms that don't gain anything to the understanding of this disorder. After all, a physician should first do no harm."