Hospital officials who dispose of bodies of persons or fetuses dead of natural causes, with legal permission of the next of kin and not for hire or profit, are responsible for filing the record of fetal death or of death. In all cases, including a reportable fetal death, a Burial Removal Transit Permit must be obtained for the disposition of the remains.

- 1000. REPORTS OF INDUCED TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY
- A. Each induced termination of pregnancy which occurs in this state, regardless of the length of gestation, shall be reported to the Bureau of Vital Statistics within seven (7) calendar days by the person in charge of the institution in which the induced termination of pregnancy was performed. If the induced termination of pregnancy was performed outside an institution, it shall be reported by the attending medical provider.
- B. Reports of induced termination of pregnancy are statistical reports to be used only for public health purposes. Such reports shall be disposed of when all statistical processing of the reports has been accomplished. However, the Department may establish a data file of such reports so they will be available for future research and such file may be retained for as long as the State Registrar deems necessary.

C. When a late fee is assessed pursuant to S.C. Code Section 44-41-460(D), the institution shall be eligible for a fifty percent (50%) reduction of fees if the fee is paid in full within thirty (30) calendar days. If the fee is not paid in full within thirty (30) calendar days, the full amount due must be paid.

- 1100. CORRECTION AND AMENDMENT OF VITAL RECORDS

## 1101. General.

- A. Live birth records are presumed to contain accurate information on the facts of live birth when they are registered. Live birth records will be amended or corrected only to rectify errors in the facts of live birth, except as provided for in this regulation.
- B. A delayed record of live birth placed on file with supporting documentation or by judicial procedure shall not be amended except to reflect changes upon receipt of a certified court order.
- C. Certificates of marriage and reports of divorce must be corrected by the custodian of the official record from which the report was prepared. The custodian shall submit the amended certificate to the Department with a statement listing the items changed and evidence presented to support each certification item changed. Any corrected records shall be marked amended when issued by the Department.
- D. Except as specifically allowed by law, sealed records and their accompanying documents are not subject to reproduction by any means, including, but not limited to, photography or photocopying, and shall not be subject to inspection except upon order of the Family Court. The State Registrar or their designee may inspect such information for purposes of properly administering the vital statistics program.
- E. Changes to birth or death records must be requested by a person entitled by law to obtain a certified copy of the record to be amended.

F. If paternity is rescinded pursuant to S.C. Code Section 63-17-50, the signatory’s name will not be removed from the record of live birth except upon receipt of an order from a court of competent jurisdiction terminating the parental rights of the father and ordering the Department to remove the father’s information.

## 1102. Correction of Birth and Death Records.