Pregnancy loss certificates; form and content; health care professionals and hospital administrators

§ 4161. Pregnancy loss certificates; form and content; health care professionals and hospital administrators. 1. The certificate of pregnancy loss and the report of pregnancy loss shall contain such information and be in such form as the commissioner may prescribe; provided however that commencing on or after the implementation date under section forty-one hundred forty-eight of this article, information and signatures required by this subdivision shall be obtained and made in accordance with section forty-one hundred forty-eight of this article, except that unless requested by the individual who experienced the pregnancy loss neither the certificate nor the report of pregnancy loss shall contain the name of the individual, such individual's social security number or any other information, alone or in combination, which would permit such individual to be identified except as provided in this subdivision. The report shall state that a certificate of pregnancy loss was filed with the commissioner and the date of such filing.

2. In each case where a health care provider licensed pursuant to title eight of the education law and acting within the scope of such health care provider's practice was in attendance at or after a pregnancy loss, it is the duty of such health care provider to certify the pregnancy loss certificate.

3. Where a pregnancy loss occurs without the attendance of a health care provider as provided in subdivision two of this section and the individual experiencing the pregnancy loss seeks disposition of the products of conception in accordance with section forty-one hundred sixty-two of this title, such individual may present themselves to the coroner or medical director of the county, or if there be more than one, to a coroner having jurisdiction, or to the medical examiner to certify the pregnancy loss certificate. Provided, however, nothing in this section shall provide the coroner, medical director, or medical examiner with the authority to investigate an individual who experienced a pregnancy loss.

4. When a pregnancy loss occurs in a hospital, except in those cases where certificates are issued by coroners or medical examiners, the person in charge of such hospital or such person's designated representative shall ensure that the certificate is promptly prepared in accordance with the provisions of this article and regulations as promulgated by the commissioner.

5. A local registrar shall not charge a fee for the issuance of a certificate of pregnancy loss under this article.