Section 4-213 - Fetal death certificates. - Maryland Statutes

§ 4-213. Fetal death certificates.
 

(a)  Filing required.- If a fetal death occurs after a gestation period of 20 weeks or more, then within 72 hours after delivery, a certificate of fetal death shall be filed by: 

(1) The mortician who first takes custody of a fetus; 

(2) The person in charge of the institution or the person's designated representative when a fetus is delivered in an institution; 

(3) The physician in attendance at or immediately after delivery when a fetus is delivered outside an institution; or 

(4) The medical examiner when a fetal death occurs without medical attendance at or immediately after the delivery when a medical examiner's inquiry is required. 

(b)  Completion of certificate.- The person who files the fetal death certificate shall obtain: 

(1) The personal information from the next of kin or the best qualified individual or source available; and 

(2) The medical certification of cause of death: 

(i) From the medical examiner, within 24 hours after the medical examiner takes charge of the fetus; or 

(ii) If the medical examiner does not take charge of the fetus, from the attending physician within 24 hours after delivery. 

(c)  Fetal death on common carrier - Report.- When a fetal death occurs on a common carrier and the fetus is first removed from the carrier in this State or when a fetus is found in this State and the place of fetal death is unknown, the fetal death shall be reported in this State. 

(d)  Fetal death on common carrier - Place of death.- The place where the fetus was first removed from the carrier or the fetus was found shall be considered the place of fetal death. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 21; 1982, ch. 21, § 2; 1995, ch. 97; 1997, ch. 14, § 1.]