2013 Maryland Code
HEALTH - GENERAL
§ 4-201 - Definitions


MD Health-Gen Code § 4-201 (2013) What's This?

§4-201.

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Attending physician” means the physician in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or condition which resulted in death.

(c) “County registrar” means the registrar of vital records for a county.

(d) (1) “Dead body” means:

(i) A dead human body; or

(ii) Parts or bones of a human body if, from their condition, an individual reasonably may conclude that death has occurred.

(2) “Dead body” does not include an amputated part.

(e) “Fetal death” means death of a product of human conception, before its complete expulsion or extraction from the mother, regardless of the duration of the pregnancy, as indicated by the fact that, after the expulsion or extraction, the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life, such as heart beat, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscle.

(f) “File” means to present for registration any certificate, report, or other record including records transmitted by approved electronic media, including facsimile, of birth, death, fetal death, adoption, marriage, or divorce for which this subtitle provides and to have the Secretary accept the record.

(g) “Filing date” means the date a vital record is accepted for registration by the Secretary.

(h) “Final disposition” means the burial, cremation, or other final disposition of a body or fetus.

(i) “Institution” means any public or private establishment:

(1) To which individuals are committed by law; or

(2) That provides to 2 or more unrelated individuals:

(i) Any inpatient or outpatient medical, surgical, or diagnostic care or treatment; or

(ii) Any nursing, custodial, or domiciliary care.

(j) “Live birth” means the complete expulsion or extraction of a product of human conception from the mother, regardless of the period of gestation, if, after the expulsion or extraction, it breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as heart beat, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscle, whether or not the umbilical cord is cut or the placenta is attached.

(k) “Mortician” means a funeral director, mortician, or other person who is authorized to make final disposition of a body.

(l) “Physician” means a person authorized or licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy pursuant to the laws of this State.

(m) “Registration” means acceptance by the Secretary and incorporation in the records of the Department of any certificate, report, or other record of birth, death, fetal death, adoption, marriage, divorce, or dissolution or annulment of marriage for which this subtitle provides.

(n) “Vital record” means a certificate or report of birth, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, dissolution or annulment of marriage, adoption, or adjudication of paternity that is required by law to be filed with the Secretary.

(o) “Vital statistics” means the data derived from certificates and reports of birth, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, dissolution or annulment of marriage, and reports related to any of these certificates and reports.

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