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Richardson catching heat for one of his vetoes
Group upset governor rejected measure that would have required a "certificate of fetal death" for still born babies.
This from a group that was pushing for the measure:
The MISSing Angels Bill (SB17) was created to help provide much-needed
comfort, dignity, and legal documentation to women and their families experiencing the death of a baby just prior to or during birth.
Currently, New Mexico law requires reporting of stillbirth/fetal deaths and
demands that families pay funeral costs for their deceased baby, yet provides no acknowledgement that the baby was born.
"It's an unthinkable tragedy," says Carin Dhouadi, New Mexico resident and
constituent. "I gave birth to a full term baby who died, and the state says I must bury her. But they won't say she was born? How can you
die if you never were?"
Joanne Cacciatore, CEO of the MISS (Mothers in Sympathy and Support) Foundation and a PhD Candidate who studies stillbirth, passed the first bill in Arizona in 2001, and has worked to pass it in other states since. She says that families around the nation are outraged at Richardson's move. "Richardson has just flippantly driven a stake
through the heart of this legislation that addresses the ultimate woman's
issue-Women give birth. And their babies- about one in 100- are dying as a result of stillbirth. He's perpetuating the ignorance," she says.
The change might not seem significant to many. However, to those who have experienced the anguish of losing a baby - SB17 is an important step in allowing grieving parents
the same respect given to the woman leaving the hospital with a healthy infant in her arms. "This bill had support from everyone, including pro-choice legislators like Representatives Gail Chasey and Mimi Stewart, who understand this as an important woman's issue," said Halo Golden, volunteer lobbyist for the NM bill and the mother of a stillborn baby.
Richard Olsen of the National Stillbirth Society believes that this move was "political
pandering", stating that the "governor's veto is an insensitive act that marginalizes women and ignores the interests of his own constituents in favor of his presidential aspirations."
In his veto message, Richardson said the bill would mean two documents would have to be created for each stillborn. He also said having two records of a single event could lead to fraud.
Posted by Kate Nash at 02:42 PM | Permalink
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Posted by: hgolden | April 10, 2007 08:39 PM
actually the state does not already *issue* a report of fetal death. the hospital fills it out, sends it to the state and then after a year or so it is destroyed. we can get a copy of it at the will of the registrar, but state statute says that the form shall not be issued in any manner. so we don't even have a death certificate. we have nothing.
but you are right that there are final disposition statutes for babies that are never officially born by state standards.
you aren't kidding about the anger and energy.
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Posted by: jcaccia | April 10, 2007 05:17 PM