SIDS family plea to Barnett

The grieving family of a baby who died of suspected SIDS have made an emotional plea to Colin Barnett to review the State's forensic services after they had to wait weeks to get the boy's body returned intact for the funeral.

The family of three-week-old Mason Martin were forced to delay his cremation - so the baby's brain could be returned to his body - because WA's only forensic neuropathologist, who needed to do an examination, was on leave.

Graham and Michelle Hood, grandparents of Mason - who was found dead in bed by his mother at her Perth home on February 4 - said when police released the body five days later for the funeral they warned it would be "incomplete", missing the brain.

Mr Hood said they were told if they wanted the body intact, they would have to wait for the only available neuropathologist to return from leave on February 16.

To add to the initial distressing delay, they were then told that even once the neuropathologist returned from leave, they had to wait another four days for the examination because she only worked at the State Mortuary one day a week.

By the time the examination was done and Mason's body was sent to the funeral director and prepared for viewing, it was February 22, 18 days after his death.

Mr Hood, who runs a Christian charity in Queensland with his wife, said the little baby had spent almost as much time in a fridge at the mortuary as he had spent alive.

"We were told we could have his funeral from February 9, and his brain could be cremated later, but that was totally unacceptable after the already tragic set of circumstances," Mr Hood said.

"How could anyone expect the shattered mother to hold her baby's body to say goodbye, knowing he was incomplete?

"I cannot believe the great State of WA employs only one neuropathologist for the Coroner's office, one day a week, and there is no backup if there is ever a leave situation."

Mr Hood said while they had been helped by several caring people, including police, the events had traumatised Mason's mother.

A spokeswoman for the Coroner's Court said they were unable to comment on specific cases but understood it could be an extremely traumatic time for families.

It was the Coroner's role to investigate every unnatural death to attempt to establish how and why a person had died.

"The court works with the resources that are available to us to complete that task," she said.

"Currently, the State has only one forensic neuropathologist who attends the State Mortuary every Thursday to conduct examinations.

"On occasion, examinations have to be delayed if the forensic neuropathologist is unavailable.

"It is deeply regrettable that this situation may cause additional distress for families."

The Premier said the death of the baby was tragic and he expected the circumstances of Mason's case would be reviewed.

"The matters raised by Mr Hood warrant proper examination and a considered response and I am seeking advice from the Government agencies involved and will provide Mr Hood with a response as soon as possible," Mr Barnett said.