{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-264.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-264.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-264.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-264.html"}],"law_id":81244,"edition_id":1,"section_id":81244,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-264","catch_line":"Reports of fetal deaths; medical certification; investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; confidentiality of information concerning abortions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 32-353.21; 1960, c. 451; 1975, c. 267; 1979, c. 711; 1983, c. 240; 1987, c. 405; 2014, c. 583.","full_text":"A\n\nA fetal death report for each fetal death which occurs in this Commonwealth shall be filed, on a form furnished by the State Registrar, with the registrar of the district in which the delivery occurred or the abortion was performed within three days after such delivery or abortion and shall be registered with such registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section, provided that:1\n\nIf the place of fetal death is unknown, a fetal death report shall be filed in the registration district in which a dead fetus was found within three days after discovery of such fetus; and2\n\nIf a fetal death occurs in a moving conveyance, a fetal death report shall be filed in the registration district in which the fetus was first removed from such conveyance.B\n\nThe funeral director or person who first assumes custody of a dead fetus or, in the absence of a funeral director or such person, the hospital representative who first assumes custody of a fetus shall file the fetal death report; in the absence of such a person, the physician or other person in attendance at or after the delivery or abortion shall file the report of fetal death. The person completing the forms shall obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available, and he shall obtain the medical certification of cause of death from the person responsible for preparing the same as provided in this section. In the case of induced abortion, such forms shall not identify the patient by name.C\n\nThe medical certification portion of the fetal death report shall be completed and signed within 24 hours after delivery or abortion by the physician in attendance at or after delivery or abortion except when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required.D\n\nWhen a fetal death occurs without medical attendance upon the mother at or after the delivery or abortion or when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required, the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause an investigation of the cause of fetal death to be made and the medical certification portion of the fetal death report to be completed and signed within 24 hours after being notified of a fetal death.E\n\nThe reports required pursuant to this section are statistical reports to be used only for medical and health purposes and shall not be incorporated into the permanent official records of the system of vital records. A schedule for the disposition of these reports may be provided by regulation.F\n\nThe physician or facility attending an individual who has delivered a dead fetus shall maintain a copy of the fetal death report for one year and, upon written request by the individual and payment of an appropriate fee, shall furnish the individual a copy of such report.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":291204,"text":"A fetal death report for each fetal death which occurs in this Commonwealth shall be filed, on a form furnished by the State Registrar, with the registrar of the district in which the delivery occurred or the abortion was performed within three days after such delivery or abortion and shall be registered with such registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section, provided that:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":291205,"text":"If the place of fetal death is unknown, a fetal death report shall be filed in the registration district in which a dead fetus was found within three days after discovery of such fetus; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":291206,"text":"If a fetal death occurs in a moving conveyance, a fetal death report shall be filed in the registration district in which the fetus was first removed from such conveyance.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"B"},"3":{"id":291207,"text":"The funeral director or person who first assumes custody of a dead fetus or, in the absence of a funeral director or such person, the hospital representative who first assumes custody of a fetus shall file the fetal death report; in the absence of such a person, the physician or other person in attendance at or after the delivery or abortion shall file the report of fetal death. The person completing the forms shall obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available, and he shall obtain the medical certification of cause of death from the person responsible for preparing the same as provided in this section. In the case of induced abortion, such forms shall not identify the patient by name.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":291208,"text":"The medical certification portion of the fetal death report shall be completed and signed within 24 hours after delivery or abortion by the physician in attendance at or after delivery or abortion except when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"5":{"id":291209,"text":"When a fetal death occurs without medical attendance upon the mother at or after the delivery or abortion or when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required, the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause an investigation of the cause of fetal death to be made and the medical certification portion of the fetal death report to be completed and signed within 24 hours after being notified of a fetal death.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"6":{"id":291210,"text":"The reports required pursuant to this section are statistical reports to be used only for medical and health purposes and shall not be incorporated into the permanent official records of the system of vital records. A schedule for the disposition of these reports may be provided by regulation.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"7":{"id":291211,"text":"The physician or facility attending an individual who has delivered a dead fetus shall maintain a copy of the fetal death report for one year and, upon written request by the individual and payment of an appropriate fee, shall furnish the individual a copy of such report.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15293,"edition_id":1,"name":"Death Certificates and Out-Of-State Transit Permits","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14405,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:41","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:41","permalink":{"id":204239,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15293,"identifier":"4","token":"32.1\/7\/4","url":"\/32.1\/7\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14405,"edition_id":1,"name":"Vital Records","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:01","permalink":{"id":204163,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14405,"identifier":"7","token":"32.1\/7","url":"\/32.1\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":68053,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-263","catch_line":"Filing death certificates; medical certification; investigation by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner","url":"\/32.1-263\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-263","metadata":false},{"id":81244,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-264","catch_line":"Reports of fetal deaths; medical certification; investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; confidentiality of information concerning abortions","url":"\/32.1-264\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-264","metadata":false},{"id":58218,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-265","catch_line":"Transit permits; permits for disinterment and reinterment","url":"\/32.1-265\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-265","metadata":false},{"id":79746,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-266","catch_line":"Extending time for filing death certificates and obtaining out-of-state transit permits","url":"\/32.1-266\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-266","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":68053,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-263","catch_line":"Filing death certificates; medical certification; investigation by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner","url":"\/32.1-263\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-263","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":58218,"structure_id":15293,"section_number":"32.1-265","catch_line":"Transit permits; permits for disinterment and reinterment","url":"\/32.1-265\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-265","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-264\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 451; in 1975, chapter 267; in 1979, chapter 711; in 1983, chapter 240; in 1987, chapter 405; in 2014, chapter 583<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68527,"section_number":"32.1-258.1","catch_line":"Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth; requirements","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-258.1\/"},{"id":79746,"section_number":"32.1-266","catch_line":"Extending time for filing death certificates and obtaining out-of-state transit permits","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-266\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":204245,"object_type":"law","relational_id":81244,"identifier":"32.1-264","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-264","url":"\/32.1-264\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-264\/","token":"32.1\/7\/4\/32.1-264","dublin_core":{"Title":"Reports of fetal deaths; medical certification; investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; confidentiality of information concerning abortions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-264","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A fetal death<\/span> report for each fetal death<\/span> which occurs in this Commonwealth shall be filed, on a form furnished by the State Registrar, with the registrar of the district in which the delivery occurred or the abortion was performed within three days after such delivery or abortion and shall be registered with such registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section, provided that: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> If the place of fetal death<\/span> is unknown, a fetal death<\/span> report shall be filed in the registration<\/span> district in which a dead fetus was found within three days after discovery<\/span> of such fetus; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> If a fetal death<\/span> occurs in a moving conveyance, a fetal death<\/span> report shall be filed in the registration<\/span> district in which the fetus was first removed from such conveyance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The funeral director or person<\/span> who first assumes custody<\/span> of a dead fetus or, in the absence of a funeral director or such person<\/span>, the hospital representative who first assumes custody<\/span> of a fetus shall file<\/span> the fetal death<\/span> report; in the absence of such a person<\/span>, the physician<\/span> or other person<\/span> in attendance at or after the delivery or abortion shall file<\/span> the report of fetal death<\/span>. The person<\/span> completing the forms shall obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person<\/span> or source available, and he shall obtain the medical certification of cause of death from the person<\/span> responsible for preparing the same as provided in this section. In the case of induced abortion, such forms shall not identify the patient by name. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The medical certification portion of the fetal death<\/span> report shall be completed and signed within 24 hours after delivery or abortion by the physician<\/span> in attendance at or after delivery or abortion except when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> When a fetal death<\/span> occurs without medical attendance upon the mother at or after the delivery or abortion or when inquiry or investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required, the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause an investigation of the cause of fetal death<\/span> to be made and the medical certification portion of the fetal death<\/span> report to be completed and signed within 24 hours after being notified of a fetal death<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The reports required pursuant to this section are statistical reports to be used only for medical and health purposes and shall not be incorporated into the permanent official records of the system of vital records<\/span>. A schedule for the disposition<\/span> of these reports may be provided by regulation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The physician<\/span> or facility attending an individual who has delivered a dead fetus shall maintain a copy of the fetal death<\/span> report for one year and, upon written request by the individual and payment of an appropriate fee, shall furnish the individual a copy of such report. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREPORTS OF FETAL DEATHS; MEDICAL CERTIFICATION; INVESTIGATION BY THE OFFICE OF\nTHE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER; CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION CONCERNING ABORTIONS\n(\u00a7 32.1-264)\n\nA. A fetal death report for each fetal death which occurs in this Commonwealth\nshall be filed, on a form furnished by the State Registrar, with the registrar\nof the district in which the delivery occurred or the abortion was performed\nwithin three days after such delivery or abortion and shall be registered with\nsuch registrar if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this\nsection, provided that:\n\n 1. If the place of fetal death is unknown, a fetal death report shall be filed\n in the registration district in which a dead fetus was found within three days\n after discovery of such fetus; and\n\n 2. If a fetal death occurs in a moving conveyance, a fetal death report shall\n be filed in the registration district in which the fetus was first removed\n from such conveyance.\n\nB. The funeral director or person who first assumes custody of a dead fetus or,\nin the absence of a funeral director or such person, the hospital representative\nwho first assumes custody of a fetus shall file the fetal death report; in the\nabsence of such a person, the physician or other person in attendance at or\nafter the delivery or abortion shall file the report of fetal death. The person\ncompleting the forms shall obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the\nbest qualified person or source available, and he shall obtain the medical\ncertification of cause of death from the person responsible for preparing the\nsame as provided in this section. In the case of induced abortion, such forms\nshall not identify the patient by name.\n\nC. The medical certification portion of the fetal death report shall be\ncompleted and signed within 24 hours after delivery or abortion by the physician\nin attendance at or after delivery or abortion except when inquiry or\ninvestigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is required.\n\nD. When a fetal death occurs without medical attendance upon the mother at or\nafter the delivery or abortion or when inquiry or investigation by the Office of\nthe Chief Medical Examiner is required, the Chief Medical Examiner shall cause\nan investigation of the cause of fetal death to be made and the medical\ncertification portion of the fetal death report to be completed and signed\nwithin 24 hours after being notified of a fetal death.\n\nE. The reports required pursuant to this section are statistical reports to be\nused only for medical and health purposes and shall not be incorporated into the\npermanent official records of the system of vital records. A schedule for the\ndisposition of these reports may be provided by regulation.\n\nF. The physician or facility attending an individual who has delivered a dead\nfetus shall maintain a copy of the fetal death report for one year and, upon\nwritten request by the individual and payment of an appropriate fee, shall\nfurnish the individual a copy of such report.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 32-353.21; 1960, c. 451; 1975, c. 267; 1979, c. 711;\n1983, c. 240; 1987, c. 405; 2014, c. 583.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}