§ 4-213. Fetal death certificates

   (a) Filing required. -- If a fetal death occurs after a gestation period of 20 weeks or more, then within 72 hours after delivery, a certificate of fetal death shall be filed by:

   (1) The mortician who first takes custody of a fetus;

   (2) The person in charge of the institution or the person's designated representative when a fetus is delivered in an institution;

   (3) The physician in attendance at or immediately after delivery when a fetus is delivered outside an institution; or

   (4) The medical examiner when a fetal death occurs without medical attendance at or immediately after the delivery when a medical examiner's inquiry is required.

(b) Completion of certificate. -- The person who files the fetal death certificate shall obtain:

   (1) The personal information from the next of kin or the best qualified individual or source available; and

   (2) The medical certification of cause of death:

      (i) From the medical examiner, within 24 hours after the medical examiner takes charge of the fetus; or

      (ii) If the medical examiner does not take charge of the fetus, from the attending physician within 24 hours after delivery.

(c) Fetal death on common carrier -- Report. -- When a fetal death occurs on a common carrier and the fetus is first removed from the carrier in this State or when a fetus is found in this State and the place of fetal death is unknown, the fetal death shall be reported in this State.

(d) Fetal death on common carrier -- Place of death. -- The place where the fetus was first removed from the carrier or the fetus was found shall be considered the place of fetal death.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 21; 1982, ch. 21, § 2; 1995, ch. 97; 1997, ch. 14, § 1.