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ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS

A RESOLUTION

No. 2017 – 40

STRONGLY URGING THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF STILLBIRTH IN ADDITION TO A CERTIFICATE OF FETAL DEATH

WHEREAS, for Native Hawaiians the cycle of life begins from conception, on to birth, death and beyond; and

WHEREAS, we honor all mothers who have given birth to a child whether they were born live or still; and

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2013, approximately 24,000 stillbirths were reported in the United States; and

WHEREAS, a stillbirth is the death or loss of a baby before or during delivery and is referred to as a fetal death; and

WHEREAS, in 2012, in the California Law Review it states that “Stillbirth is a devastating obstetric outcome—a reproductive moment that at once combines birth and death;” and

WHEREAS, the loss of a baby due to stillbirth remains a sad reality for many families and takes a serious toll on families’ health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, the mother carried the baby from conception, endures natural childbirth, has milk in her breasts, leaves the hospital without their child and later deals with the burial of their child; and

WHEREAS, having only a certificate of fetal death is a troubling and oppressive reminder of a woman’s failure to produce a healthy, living baby; and

WHEREAS, respect should be shown for both the birth and death of the baby; and

WHEREAS, in Hawai‘i, upon the loss of a baby due to stillbirth, parents complete the same forms as others and instead of receiving a birth certificate they are only issued a certificate of fetal death; and

WHEREAS, reporting requirements and completeness of reporting for fetal death data vary substantially among states; and

WHEREAS, according to the M.I.S.S Foundation website (www.missfoundation.org), there are currently 34 states in the United States that have passed legislation to issue a certificate of stillbirth which began in 2001 in the State of Arizona; and

WHEREAS, the Chapter 338, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, Relating to Vital Statistics has two sections that refer to fetal deaths and these sections are 338-8, Compulsory registration of deaths and fetal deaths, and 338-9, Filing and preparation of death and fetal death certificates.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 58th Annual Convention in Seattle, Washington, in the malama of ‘Ikuwā and the rising of Māhealani, this 4th day of November 2017, strongly urging the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health to issue a certificate of stillbirth in addition to a certificate of fetal death; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon request from the mother or father, a certificate of stillbirth shall be issued by the department for any fetal death previously filed with the department; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the fee for issuance shall be the same as the fee for a birth or death certificate issued by the department; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the certificate shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 1) Name of the stillborn child, 2) Date of delivery, 3) County of delivery, 4) Mother’s name and birthplace, 5) Father’s name and birthplace; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Director of the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health, Chair of the Senate Committee on

Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, Chair of the House Committee on Health & Human Services, as well as the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors.

The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of ʻIkuwā and the rising of Māhealani on the 4th day of November 2017, at the 58th Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Seattle, Washington.

Annelle C. Amaral, President