HB-4760, As Passed House, May 4, 2004

SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 4760

                                                                             A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled                                             

"Public health code,"                                                       

(MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211) by adding section 2834a.                        

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1   Sec. 2834a.  (1) When a fetal death occurs in an                            

2   institution, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, the                 

3   individual in charge of the institution or his or her authorized            

4   representative or the physician in attendance shall provide                 

5   information to the parent or parents about the alternatives for             

6   disposal of the fetal remains.  The information shall include the           

7   means available for final disposition of the fetal remains, the             

8   persons authorized to assist in the final disposition of the                

9   fetal remains or to supervise the final disposition of the fetal            

10  remains in accordance with section 2848(2), and, if the final               

11  disposition is not supervised by a licensed funeral director,               

1   whether the parent or parents may obtain the remains.  The                  

2   individual in charge of the institution or his or her authorized            

3   representative or the physician in attendance shall not recommend           

4   1 specific holder of a license for the practice of mortuary                 

5   science to handle each funeral arrangement.                                 

6       (2) The individual in charge of the institution or his or her               

7   authorized representative or the physician in attendance may use            

8   a standardized written summary or brochure to meet the                      

9   requirements of subsection (1).  The written summary or brochure            

10  shall be written in nontechnical terms that the individual can              

11  understand.                                                                 

12      (3) A form, signed by the parent or parents, indicating that                

13  they have received the information required under subsection (1)            

14  shall be included in the medical record.  The funeral director,             

15  the individual in charge of the institution, or other person                

16  responsible for the final disposition of the fetal remains in               

17  accordance with section 2848(2) shall initial the form and retain           

18  the form with the permit required under section 2848(2).