(a) Each fetal death of three hundred fifty grams or more, and if weight is unknown, of twenty completed weeks of gestation or more, calculated from the date the last normal menstrual period began to the date of delivery, which occurs in this state, shall be reported within five days after delivery to the section of vital statistics or as otherwise directed by the state Registrar.
(1) When a fetal death occurs, the person in charge of the institution or his or her designated representative shall prepare and file the report. In obtaining the information required by the report, all institutions shall use information gathering procedures, including worksheets, provided or approved by the state Registrar.
(2) When a fetal death occurs, the physician in attendance at or immediately after delivery shall prepare and file the report.
(3) When inquiry is required pursuant to article twelve, chapter sixty-one, or other applicable provisions of this code, the state Medical Examiner or designee or county medical examiner or county coroner shall investigate the cause of fetal death and shall prepare and file the report within five days. If after investigation, the state Medical Examiner or designee or county medical examiner or county coroner decline jurisdiction, the person declining jurisdiction may direct the local health officer to investigate the cause of fetal death and prepare and file the report.
(4) When a fetal death occurs in a moving conveyance and the fetus is first removed from the conveyance in this state, the place where the fetus was first removed from the conveyance will be considered the place of fetal death.
(b) When a fetus is found in this state and the place of death is unknown, the fetal death shall be recorded in this state, and the place where the fetus was found will be considered the place of fetal death.
Structure West Virginia Code
§16-5-2. Establishment of Section of Vital Statistics in Bureau for Public Health
§16-5-3. Department of Health and Human Resources to Propose Legislative Rules
§16-5-4. Appointment of State Registrar of Vital Statistics
§16-5-5. Powers and Duties of State Registrar
§16-5-6. Registration Districts
§16-5-7. Appointment and Removal of Local Registrars and Deputy Local Registrars
§16-5-8. Duties of Local Registrars and Deputy Local Registrars
§16-5-9. Content of Certificates and Reports
§16-5-9a. Legal Residences to Be Included on Certificates of Death
§16-5-10. Birth Registration Acknowledgment and Rescission of Paternity
§16-5-11. Registration of Infants and Minors Born With Specified Birth Defects
§16-5-12. Notation on Birth Records of Missing Children
§16-5-13. Registration of Infants of Unknown Parentage
§16-5-14. Delayed Registration of Births
§16-5-15. Judicial Procedure to Establish Facts of Birth
§16-5-16. Certificate of Adoption
§16-5-17. Court Reports of Determination of Paternity
§16-5-20. Delayed Registration of Death
§16-5-21. Reports of Fetal Death
§16-5-21a. Noah's Law; Certificate of Birth for a Stillbirth; and Contents of Certificate
§16-5-22. Reports of Abortions
§16-5-23. Authorization for Disposition and Disinterment and Reinterment Permits
§16-5-24. Extension of Time for Filing Certificates, Reports and Authorizations
§16-5-25. Correction and Amendment of Vital Records
§16-5-26. Reproduction and Preservation of Records
§16-5-27. Disclosure of Information From Vital Records or Vital Reports
§16-5-28. Copies From the System of Vital Statistics
§16-5-29. Fees for Copies and Searches
§16-5-30. Persons Required to Keep Records
§16-5-31. Duty to Furnish Information Relative to Vital Events
§16-5-32. Matching of Birth and Death Certificates
§16-5-33. Limitation on Use of Social Security Numbers
§16-5-34. Uniform System of Registration of Marriage, Divorce and Annulment of Marriage
§16-5-35. Registration of Marriages
§16-5-36. Registration of Divorces and Annulments of Marriages
§16-5-37. Applicability to Previously Received Certificates and Reports