California, Nebraska Take Actions On Women's Health-Related Legislation

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 21 Jan 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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The following highlights recent news of state actions on women's health-related legislation.

Birth Certificates

• California: Under a new state law (SB 850) that went into effect Jan. 1, parents of stillborn infants can request a "Certificate of Still Birth" through the state Office of Vital Records or their county office of vital records, the Modesto Bee reports. Birth certificate requests for stillborn infants previously were denied because the pregnancy did not result in a live birth. The certificates will be issued only to parents who request them and will not be counted as live births, the Bee reports. Supporters of the law, called the California's Missing Angels Act, say the certificates serve as a tangible memento for parents and as a genealogical record. According to the Bee, there are an estimated 26,000 stillbirths annually nationwide, with birth defects, infections and umbilical cord accidents the most common causes (Carlson, Modesto Bee, 1/16).

Cord Blood Donations

• Nebraska: Sen. Gail Kopplin (D) recently introduced a bill (LB 951) that would require hospitals and physicians to inform pregnant women that they can donate umbilical cord blood, the AP/Lincoln Journal Star reports. According to the bill, parents who chose to donate cord blood could store it in a private bank specifically for their child's use or could donate it to a public bank. According to the AP/Journal Star, the stem cells in cord blood are the same as those used in bone marrow transplants. In addition, cord blood is more easily transplanted than bone marrow and can be thawed at any time, the AP/Journal Star reports (AP/Lincoln Journal Star, 1/15).
  

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