The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-06
Birth and Death Laws
Of State Set Forth

Because a large number OF physt
clans are either not conversant with
the state birth and death report law
or have forgotten its content. the
board Of health has issued q copy OF
the law which It hopes will be fused
as a New Years resolution"
The section approved on March 4,
1911, reads as follows: BE 1t enacted
by the General Assembly Of the State
of Indiana. that whenever a child Is
born, the physician, midwife or any
other person who Is engaged as pro-
fessional attendant, shall report said
birth on blank supplied by the State
Board Of Health to the health ohicer
having jurisdiction, within SO hours
after such birth occurs. Said birth
certificate In addition to other data
ordered by the State Board Of Health
shall have up on it this question:
Were precautions taken against oph.
thalmia neonatorum? And it shall be
violation Of this act for any physi-
clan or midwife In professional attend
ance at birth to fail to report same
as herein commanded or to omit ans
wering the said question: Were pre-
cautions taken against ophthalm's
neonatorum? All bills or charges for
professional services rendered at p
birth shall be unlawful If report is not
made as herein commanded"
Section s states that any violation
OF the provisions OF this act. shall be
punished by a fine not less than SO
or more than $50. The attending
physician is required under penalty,
provided by law. to file a properly
made out certificate of birth with the
health officer having Jurisdiction, with
in SO hours after birth.
The local health officer is required
under penalty, to report violations of
this requirement.. Certificates made
with lead pencil will not be accepted.
Indelible pencil or unfading ink must
be used. Physicians should write
plainly and take pains to make a cor
rect statement of the facts required
by law, as the records may become
of great legal and personal import
ance.
Must Report Deaths.
Regarding death reports the law IL
equally definite. It states:
"The reports OF deaths shall be
| made Immediately and a certificate OF
death shall be filed and burial OF
removal permit issued prior to any dis,
position of the body. When a death
occurs within the corporate limits OF
cities and towns, the certificate must
be filed with the city or town health
officer. Deaths occurring outside OF
| cities and towns, the certificate may
be filed with the health officer nearest
to the place where the death occurs
| and said health officer II the certificate
OF death be properly made out shall
issue a burial permit, which permit
| shall be valid in all parts Of the State
Upon the reporting Of any death
occurring outside Of cities and incor
| porated towns, to the nearest health
| officer other than the county health
| commissioner of the county wherein
said death occurs. said certificate o!
death shall be sent Immediately fol
| record. by said health officer to the
county health commissioner of the
| county wherein the death occurs.
ut shall be unlawful for any under
taker, sexton or other person to bury
cremate or otherwise dispose Of any
human body until he has received 6
permit to do SO from a health officer
and no such permit shall be issued b,
any health officer or deputy unit
| IuCiC LOO DSCl uCilS SIcu Qllu a Ger
tihcate of death written in unfadinE
ink or indelible pencil, and completed,
and accurately filed out by the propel
| person.
'In the event Of any burial or othel
disposal of dead human body with
out permit. the offending person
upon conviction. shall be fined not les,
than five nor more than one hundred
dollars, and If the remains are buried
the coroner Of the county In which
the illegal burial or other disposal oc
ours shall disinter or otherwise secur,
the remains, hold an inquest and with
in three days thereafter make a return
OF his findings upon official blanks t.
the health officer having Jurisdiction.
1T is unlawful for any physician O
householder to knowingly make
false report or furnish false informs
ton for the purpose Of an incorrec
certificate CT report. All hospitals. ir
situations, ETC.. shall make and kee
on file a record of all personal an,
statistical particulars relative to tn
inmates Of such institutions"