Fla OB Nurses: Birth Certificates for Stillborns

Kazz · Oct 18, 2006

I think it is completely SAD that these parents had to have BUSH make a law to get thier childs birth certificate! It should have been automatic!!!

ktwlpn, LPN · Oct 18, 2006

I think it is completely SAD that these parents had to have BUSH make a law to get thier childs birth certificate! It should have been automatic!!!

Another example of how he gets involved in matters that he has no business interfering in (remember Terri Schiavo?)I think it's a stupid waste of legislation....If I did not know that many states issue a "fetal demise" certificate but I am aware of the laws regarding birth certificates and they make perfect sense to me....Most hospitals have programs for parents who have suffered such a loss and include a document similar to a birth certificate with the baby's stats and prints etc and pics of the baby....It also sounds like a move to pander to his large "Pro LIfe" constituents...I never saw so many Pro Life and anti abortion billboards as I have seen in Fla (as many as potholes in Pennsylvania)

mybluedog · Oct 19, 2006

I think it is completely SAD that these parents had to have BUSH make a law to get thier childs birth certificate! It should have been automatic!!!

Technically, Bush does NOT make the law. Political preferences aside, the law, in this case, was written by the parents in Fla. (the parents), sponsored by their local state Senator and House Member. They are the ones responsible for creating the law.

All that any Governor does (incl. Bush) is choose to sign the law, or veto it.

In this case, he signed the bill into law. Praise God.

What is a TERRIBLE TRAGEDY is that 36 other U.S. states REFUSE to issue a birth certificate for a stillborn, and people distort the issue. Fact: A parent is given a fetal death cert.

But how can you have death without life?

Unless brave people stand up and say this is wrong and do something about it (like these people did in Texas, Arizona and Florida), the ignorant in society win, which is wrong.

elkpark · Oct 19, 2006

Another example of how he gets involved in matters that he has no business interfering in (remember Terri Schiavo?)I think it's a stupid waste of legislation....If I did not know that many states issue a "fetal demise" certificate but I am aware of the laws regarding birth certificates and they make perfect sense to me....Most hospitals have programs for parents who have suffered such a loss and include a document similar to a birth certificate with the baby's stats and prints etc and pics of the baby....It also sounds like a move to pander to his large "Pro LIfe" constituents...I never saw so many Pro Life and anti abortion billboards as I have seen in Fla (as many as potholes in Pennsylvania)

I agree completely. This seems like yet another clever move by the "pro-life" activists to try to further turn fetuses into "children." While I don't dispute that a stillbirth is a terrible, painful tragedy for the family involved, why would a deceased fetus need a birth certificate? It's not going to be registering for school later on, or anything like that ... Hospital OB departments provide plenty of mementos, photos, etc., to families in these sad situations; they don't need the state to issue them a piece of paper in order to be able to "remember" their loss.

I feel that the laws regarding this issue in most of the states are perfectly appropriate and sensible. I could not disagree more with the idea that those who support this kind of pandering, highly politicized movement and legislation are "brave" and we who don't are "ignorant" ... :rolleyes:

mybluedog · Oct 19, 2006

I agree completely. This seems like yet another clever move by the "pro-life" activists to try to further turn fetuses into "children." While I don't dispute that a stillbirth is a terrible, painful tragedy for the family involved, why would a deceased fetus need a birth certificate? It's not going to be registering for school later on, or anything like that ... Hospital OB departments provide plenty of mementos, photos, etc., to families in these sad situations; they don't need the state to issue them a piece of paper in order to be able to "remember" their loss.
I feel that the laws regarding this issue in most of the states are perfectly appropriate and sensible. I could not disagree more with the idea that those who support this kind of pandering, highly politicized movement and legislation are "brave" and we who don't are "ignorant" ...

Birth is a process -- life or death is an outcome. With a stillbirth, it was at NO choice of the woman of what that outcome was.

Ask any woman who has experienced this tragedy, and they will tell you: had they know it would have happened to them, they would have gladly asked to be induced, deliver their child, and go on with their lives.

But for a woman to labor, give delivery to a child, and the state say she never gave "birth" is outrageous, inhumane, and wrong. PERIOD.

How can a Fetal Death Cert be issued without a birth certificate?

How can their be death without recognition of the birth?

This is the issue. Nothing more. Nothing less.