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August 30, 2001 Dear Hospital Administrators and Obstetrical Department Directors, “We all know this is a change that is long overdue.”
With
those simple words, Governor Jane Dee Hull picked up her pen and
signed into law House Bill 2416, also known as The Missing Angels
Bill. Effective August 9, 2001, the Office of Vital
Records and Statistics of the Arizona Department of Public Health
will begin issuing “Certificates of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth”
to parents of stillborn infants. By statute the certificate must
be offered to them at the hospital. The law is retroactive and
will include infants born still prior to the enactment of the law.
Arizona is the first state in the U.S. to change this law. Because this new law was effective August 9, 2001,
hospitals should begin informing parents of stillborn infants of
the opportunity to have the stillbirth recorded in the same manner
as live births are recorded. It is not mandatory for the hospital
to complete the new form if the parents decline but it is mandatory
that it be offered to them. This
new form enables the parents to receive a CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH RESULTING
IN STILLBIRTH. Enclosed is a suggested script your staff may want
to use when discussing this with parents. The change in the law came about because the M.I.S.S.
Foundation cared that women ¯ some of whom carried their babies
to term and beyond ¯ were being denied recognition of their birthing
event because their baby was born still. The physical pain for these
mothers was no less, but the emotional pain was overwhelming. A
piece of paper is a poor substitute for a baby, but it is tangible
evidence that they did give birth and that their baby, though not
living, still matters. If you are interested in an informational
workshop to teach your employees about the new law, the MISS Foundation
offers this training based on your available budget. Please contact
me at 623.979.1000 if you would like more information. Very
Sincerely Yours, Joanne Cacciatore-Garard Founder and Director, M.I.S.S. Foundation Enclosures cc: Laurie Lange, V.P., Public Affairs |
