Additionally, the physician or qualified professional shall inform the woman that she has the right to obtain a death certificate for the unborn child. If the woman decides to request that a death certificate be created, the physician who performed or induced the abortion shall, within 72 hours of the procedure, file a completed notification of death with the state registrar in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department of Health and Senior Services. The state registrar shall issue a death certificate for the unborn child only to the mother and only upon application from the mother. The mother may choose to have the cause of death left blank. Any death certificate issued under this provision shall include the statement "This certificate is for personal use only and is not proof of a live birth". The certificates, applications for the certificates, and the notifications of death shall be considered closed records and shall not be transferred to the Missouri State Archives, disclosed for research purposes, or included in any national, state, or local vital statistics systems. The registrar may charge a nominal fee for the actual costs of providing the certificate.
SARAH HASKINS
Statutes affected: