HELTH NEWS

On August 23, 2008 - (APM International): Two decrees and a decree published Friday in the Official Journal will allow the inclusion in the civil status of children born without life or born alive but not viable, whatever their futures and their weight . Until now, children born without life in France before 22 weeks of gestation and with a weight of less than 500 grams had the status of "anatomical piece" and could not be registered. According to the texts published in OJ Friday, an officer of civil status can now draw up an "act of child without life" on production of a "medical certificate of confinement". The certificate, filled by the doctor or midwife may be established for deliveries spontaneous or induced for medical reasons (IMG) but not for early voluntary interruptions of pregnancy (early miscarriages) and abortion (IVG ). No threshold gestational age or weight is specified, note-t-on. The certificate stating the name of the mother and date of birth of the child stillborn or born alive but not viable. It may also be included in the family book. These texts intervene after the Court of Cassation has led in February to three families, several times rejected, a state civil their stillborn babies while they did not meet the criteria of age and weight recommended by the 'World Health Organization (WHO). (Two decrees and an order of 20 August 2008, OJ of August 22, texts 8, 10 and 28)