Legislative Hot Topics Birth Resulting in Stillbirth Certificates Dorothy S. Harshbarger State Registrar and Director Alabama Center for Health Statistics

Proposed Legislation To have the state vital records office issue a document titled “Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth” instead of a Fetal Death Report

Who is Pushing Legislation  MISS Foundation through MISSing Angels Bill Web site  National Stillbirth Society Web site  Many other websites connected to these

Reasons given for needing bill “Stillbirth has been ignored in every public health arena in the country” “Issuing these certificates for stillbirths would allow clear definitions for accurate statistical analysis and enhanced understanding of stillbirth.”

Reasons given for needing bill (cont.) “Insensitivity to women who endure the death and the birth of their stillborn infant” “no willingness to acknowledge that this infant ever ‘was’” “The death of the baby is acknowledged by a Fetal Death Certificate but not the birth.”

Process Coordinated effort across states Step by step process on web site Constituent in state contacts legislator to sponsor bill Tell story – sample letter on web site Give state statistics Appears to be fairly standard wording introduced in bill

Bill Requirements For fetal deaths of 20 weeks or more gestation, the mother or father may request the State Registrar to prepare a “Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth” It shall meet all requirements for a certificate for a live birth with the exception of the name It becomes a permanent record

Goal Passage of legislation requiring all states to offer a “Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth” Must have legislation in state, not policy since policy can change

Goal (cont.) “Although they are worded very similarly, a ‘Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth’ and a ‘Certificate of Stillbirth’ are not the same thing.” “Thus, our goal for those states that offer a ‘Certificate of Stillbirth’, is to change the certificate to a ‘Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth’ which we view as a ‘BIRTH’ certificate”

Status Arizona first state to pass legislation – 2001 Indiana, Massachusetts,Utah – 2002 Maryland, Virginia – 2003 New Jersey, South Carolina, Wisconsin – 2004 Several others offer Certificate of Stillbirth Legislation introduced in many other states

Next Arizona just passed legislation giving a state income tax deduction to parents who obtain a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth