February 7, 2006, Introduced by Reps. Huizenga, Nitz, Gosselin, Wenke, Vander Veen, Taub, Hoogendyk, Brandenburg, Meyer, Pearce, Drolet, Baxter, Emmons, Jones, Steil, Moolenaar, Pavlov, Hildenbrand, Green and Stahl and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled
"Public health code,"
by amending sections 2803, 2804, 2834, and 2848 (MCL 333.2803,
333.2804, 333.2834, and 333.2848), sections 2803, 2834, and 2848 as
amended by 2002 PA 562 and section 2804 as amended by 1990 PA 149,
and by adding sections 2836 and 2854.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 2803. (1) "Abortion" means that term as defined in
section 17015.
(2)
(1) "Dead
body" means a human body or fetus, or a part
of a dead human body or fetus, in a condition from which it may
reasonably be concluded that death has occurred.
(3) (2)
"Fetal death" means the death of a fetus
which has
completed at least 20 weeks of gestation or weighs at least 400
grams. Fetal death includes a stillbirth. The definition shall
conform in all other respects as closely as possible to the
definition recommended by the federal agency responsible for vital
statistics.
(4) "Fetal remains" means a dead fetus or part of a dead fetus
that has completed at least 8 weeks of gestation or has reached the
stage of development that, upon visual inspection of the fetus or
part of the fetus, the head, torso, or extremities appear to be
supported by skeletal or cartilaginous structures. Fetal remains do
not include the umbilical cord or placenta.
(5) (3)
"File" means to present a certificate,
report, or
other record to the local registrar provided for in this part for
registration by the state registrar.
(6) (4)
"Final disposition" means the burial,
cremation, or
other
disposition of a dead human body,
or dead fetus, or fetal
remains.
Sec. 2804. (1) "Institution" means a public or private
establishment which provides inpatient medical, surgical, or
diagnostic care or treatment or nursing, custodial, or domiciliary
care to 2 or more unrelated individuals, including an establishment
to which individuals are committed by law.
(2) "Law enforcement agency" means a police agency of a city,
village, or township; a sheriff's department; the department of
state police; and any other governmental law enforcement agency.
(3) "Live birth" means a term defined by departmental rule
which shall conform as closely as possible to the definition of
live birth recommended by the federal agency responsible for vital
statistics.
(4) "Local registrar" means the county clerk or the clerk's
deputy, or in the case of a city having a population of 40,000 or
more, the city clerk or city department designated by the governing
body of the city; or a registrar appointed pursuant to section
2814. Population shall be determined according to the latest
federal decennial census.
(5) "Medical waste" means that term as defined in section
13805.
(6) "Miscarriage" means the spontaneous expulsion of a
nonviable fetus before the twentieth week of gestation.
(7) (5)
"Registration" means the acceptance by the
state
registrar and the incorporation of certificates provided for in
this part into the official vital records.
Sec. 2834. (1) A fetal death occurring in this state, as
defined by section 2803, shall be reported to the state registrar
within 5 days after delivery. The state registrar shall prescribe
the form and manner for reporting fetal deaths.
(2) The reporting form shall not contain the name of the
biological parents, common identifiers such as social security or
drivers license numbers or other information identifiers that would
make it possible to identify in any manner or in any circumstances
the biological parents of the fetus. A state agency shall not
compare data in an information system file with data in another
computer system which would result in identifying in any way a
woman or father involved in a fetal death. Statistical information
which may reveal the identity of the biological parents involved in
a fetal death shall not be maintained. This subsection does not
apply after June 1, 2003.
(3) If a dead fetus is delivered in an institution, the
individual in charge of the institution or his or her authorized
representative shall prepare and file the report and make
arrangements for the final disposition of the dead fetus in
accordance with section 2848 taking into account the expressed
wishes of the parents, or parent in case of an unmarried mother, as
long as those wishes do not conflict with any state or federal law,
rule, or regulation.
(4) If a dead fetus is delivered outside an institution, the
physician in attendance shall prepare and file the report and
inform the parents, or parent in case of an unmarried mother, that
state law requires that authorization be obtained before the final
disposition of a dead fetus resulting from a stillbirth and that
the parents or parent has a right to determine the final
disposition of the dead fetus.
(5) If a fetal death occurs without medical attendance at or
after the delivery or if inquiry is required by the medical
examiner, the attendant, mother, or other person having knowledge
of the fetal death shall notify the medical examiner who shall
investigate the cause and prepare and file the report.
(6) The reports required under this section and filed before
June 1, 2003 are confidential statistical reports to be used only
for medical and health purposes and shall not be incorporated into
the permanent official records of the system of vital statistics. A
schedule for the disposition of these reports shall be provided for
by the department. The department or any employee of the department
shall not disclose to any person outside the department the reports
or the contents of the reports required by this section and filed
before June 1, 2003 in any manner or fashion so as to permit the
person or entity to whom the report is disclosed to identify in any
way the biological parents.
(7) The reports required under this section and filed on or
after June 1, 2003 are permanent vital records documents and shall
be incorporated into the system of vital statistics as described in
section 2805. Access to a fetal death report or information
contained on a fetal death report shall be the same as to a live
birth record in accordance with sections 2882, 2883, and 2888.
(8) With information provided to the department under
subsection (7), the department shall create a certificate of
stillbirth which shall conform as nearly as possible to recognized
national standardized forms and shall include, but not be limited
to, the following information:
(a) The name of the fetus, if it was given a name by the
parent or parents.
(b) The number of weeks of gestation completed.
(c) The date of delivery and weight at the time of delivery.
(d) The name of the parent or parents.
(e) The name of the health facility in which the fetus was
delivered or the name of the health professional in attendance if
the delivery was outside a health facility.
(9) If a miscarriage occurs outside a health facility and a
health professional is present or is immediately aware of the
miscarriage, then the health professional shall inform the parents,
or parent in the case of an unmarried mother, that state law
requires that authorization be obtained before the final
disposition of any fetal remains resulting from a miscarriage and
disclose to the parents, or parent in the case of an unmarried
mother, that they have a right to determine the final disposition
of the fetal remains.
Sec. 2836. (1) Unless the patient has provided written consent
for research on the fetal remains in accordance with section 2688,
a physician who performs an abortion shall arrange for the final
disposition of the fetal remains resulting from the abortion. If
the fetal remains are disposed of by cremation, the fetal remains
shall be incinerated separately from any other medical waste.
However, this subsection does not prohibit the cremation of fetal
remains with other fetal remains resulting from an abortion.
(2) This section does not require a physician to discuss the
final disposition of the fetal remains with the patient prior to
performing the abortion, nor does it require a physician to obtain
authorization from the patient for the final disposition of the
fetal remains upon completion of the abortion.
Sec. 2848. (1) Except as provided in sections 2844 and 2845, a
funeral director or person acting as a funeral director, who first
assumes custody of a dead body, not later than 72 hours after death
or the finding of a dead body and before final disposition of the
body, shall obtain authorization for the final disposition. The
authorization for final disposition of a dead body shall be issued
on a form prescribed by the state registrar and signed by the local
registrar or the state registrar.
(2) Before
Unless written consent for
research has been
obtained in accordance with section 2688, before final disposition
of a dead fetus, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, or
before final disposition of fetal remains resulting from a
miscarriage, the funeral director or person assuming responsibility
for the final disposition of the fetus or fetal remains shall
obtain from the parents, or parent in case of an unmarried mother,
an authorization for final disposition on a form prescribed and
furnished or approved by the state registrar. The authorization may
allow final disposition to be by a funeral director, the individual
in charge of the institution where the fetus was delivered or where
the fetal remains were miscarried, or an institution or agency
authorized
to accept donated bodies, or fetuses,
or fetal remains
under this code. After final disposition, the funeral director, the
individual in charge of the institution, or other person making the
final disposition shall retain the permit for not less than 7
years. Nothing in this section as amended by the amendatory act
that added section 2836 requires a religious service or ceremony as
part of the final disposition of fetal remains.
(3) If final disposition is by cremation, the medical examiner
of the county in which death occurred shall sign the authorization
for final disposition.
(4) A body may be moved from the place of death to be prepared
for final disposition with the consent of the physician or county
medical examiner who certifies the cause of death.
(5) A permit for disposition issued under the law of another
state that accompanies a dead body or dead fetus brought into this
state is authorization for final disposition of the dead body or
dead fetus in this state.
Sec. 2854. (1) A person who violates this part by failing to
obtain the proper authorization for final disposition as provided
under section 2848 or to properly dispose of fetal remains as
provided under sections 2848 and 2836 is responsible for a state
civil infraction as provided under chapter 88 of the revised
judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.8801 to 600.8835, and
may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $1,000.00 per
violation.
(2) A person who suffers injury or damages as a result of a
person violating this part as described under subsection (1) may
bring a civil cause of action against that person to secure actual
damages, including damages for emotional distress, or other
appropriate relief.