West Virginia Code § 16-5-21

Reports of fetal death
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(a) Each fetal death of three hundred fifty grams or more, and if weight is unknown, of
twenty completed weeks of gestation or more, calculated from the date the last normal
menstrual period began to the date of delivery, which occurs in this state, shall be reported
within five days after delivery to the section of vital statistics or as otherwise directed by the
state Registrar. e
(1) When a fetal death occurs, the person in charge of the institution or his or her designated
representative shall prepare and file the report. In obtaining the information required by the
report, all institutions shall use information gathering procedureus, including worksheets,
provided or approved by the state Registrar.
(2) When a fetal death occurs, the physician in attendance at or immediately after delivery
shall prepare and file the report.
(3) When inquiry is required pursuant to article twellve, chapter sixty-one, or other
applicable provisions of this code, the state Msedical Examiner or designee or county medical
examiner or county coroner shall investigate the cause of fetal death and shall prepare and
file the report within five days. If after inveistigation, the state Medical Examiner or designee
or county medical examiner or coungty coroner decline jurisdiction, the person declining
jurisdiction may direct the local health officer to investigate the cause of fetal death and
prepare and file the report.
(4) When a fetal death occurs in a moving conveyance and the fetus is first removed from the
conveyance in this state, the place where the fetus was first removed from the conveyance
will be considered the place of fetal death.
(b) When a feVtus is found in this state and the place of death is unknown, the fetal death
shall be recorded in this state, and the place where the fetus was found will be considered
the place of fetal death.

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