Ohio's Grieving Parent's Act allows the state to recognize the death of fetuses of all ages.
Ohio's Grieving Parents' Act, passed as Senate Bill 175, allows, on the request of the mother, for the burial of fetuses as young as four weeks of gestation. This includes the granting of a death certificate. Hospitals must notify parents of this right.
History
Senate Bill 175 was introduced in the Ohio State Senate on May 23, 2007. The Senate passed the bill on Oct. 23, 2007. The House passed a version of the bill on May 28, 2008 and the Senate concurred the same day with the bill changes.
Fetal Death Certificates
While prior legislation permitted fetal death certificates only after 20 weeks of gestation, the Ohio Grieving Parents' Bill changed that law. The parents must only include a doctor's statement that the woman suffered a miscarriage in order to qualify.
Burial Permits
The fetus may be buried in a separate grave, in a section reserved for infants or with a close biological relative. The bill also provides a separate procedure for disinterment.
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