COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate today offered strong support for Senate Bill 175, legislation sponsored by State Senator Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls) designed to provide much-needed support and compassion in Ohio law for the tens of thousands of Ohio families who, each year, suffer the devastating loss of a child due to a miscarriage.
SB 175, also known as the Grieving Parents Act, would make changes to state law concerning the disposition of fetal remains, including requiring better information sharing between hospitals and parents as well as greater choice for parents dealing with the unexpected loss of a child.
“The unexpected loss of a pregnancy can be a very difficult, highly-emotional time for expectant parents,” said Coughlin. “SB 175 works to provide a support system for parents so they can begin the healing process, while giving them the information and tools they need to be able to make informed decisions about what to do with the fetal remains.”
Sen. Coughlin noted that according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, miscarriage is the most common type of pregnancy loss. In fact, studies reveal that anywhere from 10-25 percent of all clinically recognized pregnancies will end in miscarriage.
While current Ohio law allows for the burial or cremation of the remains of a fetus that has reached at least 20 weeks of gestation (classified as a stillbirth), there is no such guarantee for women who miscarry prior to 20 weeks (classified as a loss of pregnancy). Also, while hospitals and other health care facilities typically dispose of the fetal remains according to their own policy, there are no standards in Ohio that regulate how or even if a family is informed about the fetal disposition procedures in the hospital or clinic in which they are receiving care.<
SB 175 works to remedy this unfortunate disparity by allowing parents, upon request, to seek a death certificate for a miscarried fetus, which would permit them to take possession of the remains and would given them the opportunity to do so before the remains are disposed of according to hospital policy. It would also create uniform standards by which health care providers would be required to inform parents about their right to seek a death certificate and about the disposal procedures of each hospital or clinic.
Sen. Coughlin added that Planned Parenthood reviewed SB 175 and found nothing objectionable.
“While many would like to make this a debate between Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, the reality is that this issue is neither,” explained Coughlin. “SB 175 is simply Pro-Parent.”
Five other states, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts and Missouri have already passed similar legislation, and the issue is being considered in at least five others.
After passing the Senate this afternoon with a 28 – 5 vote, SB 175 now moves to the Ohio House for further consideration.
“In passing this legislation,” Coughlin said, “the Ohio Senate is becoming the hand on the shoulder of grieving parents all across the state.”
Click here to watch the Senate floor debate on SB 175.
