Overview

This bill proposes the creation of a "certificate of loss" for mothers who experience a miscarriage or stillbirth where the child is ineligible for registration under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953. The certificate would provide official recognition of the loss and a national database will be created to archive these certificates.

Description

The bill mandates the issuance of a certificate of loss to mothers upon written request, confirmed by a medical professional, for miscarriages and stillbirths not currently registered. The certificate will include details such as the child's age (if available), parents' names, and date of loss. A publicly accessible database will be established to archive these certificates and record the cause of loss where known. The Secretary of State will be responsible for establishing the database and designating a registrar to handle the process. The bill applies to England and Wales only and comes into effect twelve months after it is passed.

Key Details:

• Certificate issued upon written request from mother, confirmed by a medical professional.
• Certificate includes child's age (if known), parents' names, and date of loss.
• National database to archive certificates and record causes of loss.
• Applies to England and Wales only.
• Comes into force 12 months after passage.

Government Spending

The bill will likely involve costs associated with establishing and maintaining the national database, employing or contracting the registrar, and producing and distributing the certificates. Exact figures are not provided in the bill itself, but these costs will need to be factored into the government's budget.

Groups Affected

• Mothers experiencing miscarriage or stillbirth: This bill directly affects these mothers by providing them with official recognition of their loss, which may offer comfort and support.
• Medical professionals: Doctors and other healthcare professionals will be involved in confirming requests for certificates.
• Government agencies: The Secretary of State and other relevant government departments will be responsible for implementing and managing the new system.

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