2016 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 24 - Health and Safety
Article 14 - Vital Statistics
Section 24-14-22.1 - Certificates of still birth.

24-14-22.1. Certificates of still birth.

A. The state registrar shall establish a certificate of still birth. A person required to report a spontaneous fetal death shall inform a woman who has delivered under circumstances in which a spontaneous fetal death has occurred, or a family member whom the woman designates, that the report of spontaneous fetal death and a certificate of still birth are available from the bureau upon request. Upon the request of a woman who delivered under circumstances in which a spontaneous fetal death occurred, or the request of a family member whom the woman designates, a certificate of still birth shall be completed and filed in accordance with Section 24-14-13 NMSA 1978.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, and upon the request of a woman who delivered under circumstances in which a spontaneous fetal death occurred, or the request of a family member whom the woman designates, the state registrar shall issue a certificate of still birth without regard to the date on which a report of spontaneous fetal death was filed, when the spontaneous fetal death was registered or when a report of spontaneous fetal death was issued.

C. A certificate of still birth shall include:

(1) the following sentence: "THIS CERTIFICATE OF STILL BIRTH CANNOT BE USED AS PROOF OF A LIVE BIRTH, FOR IDENTIFICATION OR FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE."; and

(2) only those of the following that are requested by the woman who delivered under circumstances in which a spontaneous fetal death occurred:

(a) the sex of the still-born fetus;

(b) the record number of the report of spontaneous fetal death;

(c) the date and time of delivery;

(d) the county of delivery; or

(e) the full name, birth date and birthplace of the woman who delivered under circumstances in which a spontaneous fetal death occurred.

D. Upon the request of the woman who delivered under circumstances in which a spontaneous fetal death occurred, the certificate of still birth shall include a name for the fetus delivered under circumstances in which the spontaneous fetal death occurred.

E. A certificate of still birth shall not be used to calculate live birth statistics.

F. This section provides for a person's right to request a certificate of still birth and the procedures pursuant to which a person may obtain a certificate of still birth. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to create any other right, privilege or entitlement or to abrogate any existing right, privilege or entitlement.

G. For purposes of this section, "still birth" means an unintended, intrauterine spontaneous fetal death that occurs:

(1) after the fetus has attained a gestational age of at least twenty weeks; or

(2) when the fetus has attained a weight of not less than three hundred fifty grams, if gestational age is unknown.

History: Laws 2013, ch. 183, 4.