The Preborn Infants Dignity Act establishes guidelines for the respectful treatment of the bodily remains of preborn infants, including those from miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. The bill mandates that healthcare institutions provide mothers or their authorized representatives the opportunity to arrange for burial, interment, or cremation of these remains. It also requires the issuance of fetal death reports and prohibits the sale, transfer, or experimentation on the remains, imposing strict penalties for violations. The act emphasizes the necessity of informed consent from the mother for any research or experimentation involving the remains.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws related to the certification and registration of death certificates, specifying that the responsible party for the disposition of a dead body, fetus, or embryo must present the death certificate to the appropriate certifying authority. It outlines the requirements for medical certification of the cause of death and clarifies procedures for cases where the place or date of death is unknown. The legislation includes new sections for codification into Title 50, chapter 19, and a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 50-15-403