Stillbirths could be recognized by state

[flashl]

Families who suffer a stillbirth may soon receive more than death certificates.

State lawmakers gave final-round approval Tuesday to a bill (LB1048) that will recognize the births with special birth certificates.

If signed by Gov. Dave Heineman, parents of babies who die in the womb after 20 weeks gestation may request a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth in addition to the death certificate.

Twenty-one states have laws that provide birth certificates for stillbirth, and another 12 have laws that allow certificates of stillbirth.

Journal Star

A commenter at the blog writes :

" This is not intended to help the parents, as repliers are suggesting. It is a clear attempt to legitimate unborn and stillborn fetuses as a human children in order to argue against a women's choice about whether or not to have an abortion. Not so subtle, but subtle enough that most Nebraskans are oblivious. "

The purpose of the law is perplexing to me. Is there another reason for the law? Or, is the comment correct in its assessment?

[JuniperLea]

1. How sad...

I think this plays on the emotions of those who have lost a baby this way and it's just wrong.

I believe my babies were the people they are from the moment of conception... but I'm still very pro choice... and I can't imagine what this sort of legislation will do to people.

Society sucks.

[Sabriel]

2. I see it the same way as the commenter does.

It's a nice little step on that slippery slope to "They're ALL people, no matter how many cells they're made of."

Yikes. Very scarey.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Giving out certificates of stillborns doesn't make it a scientific fact that

life exists until it biologically exists independent of the mother.

[Missouri Girl]

4. We're one upping this in Missouri . . .

Our legislature is currently pushing through a bill that will give a fairly significant state tax credit in Missouri for those with stillborn births.

A difficult situation for any parent, I know, but we have a budget crisis here in the state with hundreds of thousands cut from the Medicaid rolls, schools disintegrating. I am a state employee and our state offices still have lightbulbs missing out of some lighting fixtures to cut electrical costs. It is crazy.

It just seems like another desperate ploy from the right wing to make the Right to Life crowd happy.

[Quantess]

5. I wonder if you can claim a stillborn as a dependent on your taxes?

A good lawyer could figure out ways to make lawmakers regret they passed his bill.

[melody]

6. As a woman whose only baby was born dead, I think this is crap

I mourn my child in my heart ever month his birthday would have been -- and that happened thirty years ago. He'd be no more real to me if he had "certificates". This is just nothing more than "pro-lifer" morons trying to establish any fetus as being equal to a live birth in terms of "life".