New Pennsylvania Law Allows Birth Certificates for Stillborns

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_Pa...d=14064338

Quote : "I want people to realize that he was a part of our family. You can't take that nine months and erase it," Kauffman said. Finding out that Kail's birth wasn't recognized by the state, Kauffman said, was "like a slap in the face." "I just couldn't accept that. He weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and he was beautiful," Kauffman said. On Sept. 5, 2011, Pennsylvania will become the 31st state to offer the certificate upon request. For Kauffman and her husband Johann, the passing of the law is bittersweet.

More stupid laws on the books......

I already have issues with the gov't making laws based on individuals demands.... I.E all those laws on the books named after someone..

But this is just ridiculous.... you get a birth certificate just for being pregnant...

This is just more attempts to erode Roe vs. Wade.... hey if being pregnant = a birth certificate... does that mean getting rid of a pregnancy = murder.....

Quote from Ryu-bom : http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_Pa...d=14064338 More stupid laws on the books...... I already have issues with the gov't making laws based on individuals demands.... I.E all those laws on the books named after someone.. But this is just ridiculous.... you get a birth certificate just for being pregnant... This is just more attempts to erode Roe vs. Wade.... hey if being pregnant = a birth certificate... does that mean getting rid of a pregnancy = murder.....

1: From Article: "On Sept. 5, 2011, Pennsylvania will become the 31st state to offer the certificate upon request."

2. There are already laws on the books considering crimes against a fetus.

3. Come on...

I'm as pro-choice as they come but if a Birth certificate gives a grieving Mom solace? Print the damn thing up at the same time as the death certificate. Costs ya 10 minutes and a buck or two

Quote from lerlerler : I'm as pro-choice as they come but if a Birth certificate gives a grieving Mom solace? Print the damn thing up at the same time as the death certificate. Costs ya 10 minutes and a buck or two

I agree.. Heck even charge them the 10 bucks if you must... but be a f***ing human.

Some people need it for closure and to move on., it can be a tramatic experience.
Heck, I know a couple that named and buried a child they mis-carried (though the grave might empty though, I never asked).

Quote from lerlerler : I'm as pro-choice as they come but if a Birth certificate gives a grieving Mom solace? Print the damn thing up at the same time as the death certificate. Costs ya 10 minutes and a buck or two

I would second that.

OP, way to overlook the State's right to self determination in these matters...Kudos to the Commonwealth of PA's decision here, better late than never.

IMHO it sounds like some other States have some catching up to do.

Quote from Ryu-bom : http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_Pa...d=14064338 More stupid laws on the books...... I already have issues with the gov't making laws based on individuals demands.... I.E all those laws on the books named after someone.. But this is just ridiculous.... you get a birth certificate just for being pregnant... This is just more attempts to erode Roe vs. Wade.... hey if being pregnant = a birth certificate... does that mean getting rid of a pregnancy = murder.....

Guess you never knew a young mother 9 months pregnant whom had a car accident (not her fault), trapped in the vehicle, with a broken pelvis - taken to the hospital - and the baby was delivered still born as a result of the accident. I know of the person this happened to - and indeed it was tragic - and they buried this baby - and yes - a birth certificate was issued well before this ever became law in PA.

Quote from 808Lurker : I agree.. Heck even charge them the 10 bucks if you must... but be a f***ing human. Some people need it for closure and to move on., it can be a tramatic experience. Heck, I know a couple that named and buried a child they mis-carried (though the grave might empty though, I never asked).

I agree with the others, OP. And it's by request. Not every family will want a birth certificate but at least they have the choice of having their child recognized by the state.

It's not about abortion. It's about giving respect for the dead and their grieving parents. And how we treat our dead says a lot about our society.

Quote from StarNova : I agree with the others, OP. And it's by request. Not every family will want a birth certificate but at least they have the choice of having their child recognized by the state. It's not about abortion. It's about giving respect for the dead and their grieving parents. And how we treat our dead says a lot about our society.

Perfectly said. Thank you. New York State is waiting for its Governor to sign the bill. It is an option document (paid for by parents) for stillborn children 20wks gestation age+. In the US, a fetal death certificate is filed and families are required to have a burial/cremation via a funeral home (based on their definition of stillbirth i.e.: gestational age, weight).

Logicially speaking, if a death certificate hasn't eroded Roe v. Wade.........

Quote from Ryu-bom : http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_Pa...d=14064338 More stupid laws on the books...... I already have issues with the gov't making laws based on individuals demands.... I.E all those laws on the books named after someone.. But this is just ridiculous.... you get a birth certificate just for being pregnant... This is just more attempts to erode Roe vs. Wade.... hey if being pregnant = a birth certificate... does that mean getting rid of a pregnancy = murder.....

Roe v. Wade as an abomination. Even many liberal law scholars admit that. It's one thing to believe abortion should be legal. That's a position I can respect. Believing that abortion is protected by the Due Process clause is disgusting and intellectually bankrupt.

I recall at one time GA or TN legislature introduced a bill to make PI to be equal to 3 in schools.

That is the nice thing about laws. They need not follow scientific laws or even logic.

I'm just thinking about the tax implications(on which I don't really have an opinion either way). I wonder if the birth certificate will allow parents to obtain a social security number so that they can claim the stillborn baby as a dependent, collect child tax credit, etc. In my state we have a stillborn credit on income taxes and I would assume that a birth certificate would not allow someone to take that particular credit.

The article says that Pennsylvania is joining 31 other states in issuing birth certificates which is not really accurate. Thirty one other states do not all offer certificates of live birth for stillborns. They have varying laws from issuing certificates of stillbirth to offering a tax exemption or tax credit on state income taxes.

Quote from Ryu-bom : I have issues.....

I agree.

Not Everyone wants Money from the government for their child. My Son Tyler RJ was born still on 4/21/2011 at 36 weeks and you know what I got a death certificate and I don't see how the have no problem telling me my son dead but could even give me a birth certificate. Your telling me that if you had a child who was born still that you would be ok with people not acknowledging your child. It broke my heart when they told me I couldn't have a birth certificate cause my son never breathed so he didn't live. Get the he'll out of here you need to be alive in order to die and if your heart is beating than you are alive be stay alive on machines that breath for them an they are still consider alive. Whether a child breathes or not they are alive and think you all should go what I have been through and then tell me I don't deserve a birth certificate. M son has rights to be acknowledged and I don't care what any one says he will be thanks to the new law passed here in pa. I don't want money from anyone just some god damn respect I earned it!!