Bereaved Parents Rights Act

Key Points

• This bill requires hospitals and birth centers to tell parents about their options for handling the remains of a fetus after a miscarriage or stillbirth. This ensures families are aware of their rights during a difficult time.
• Staff must give parents a form explaining that they can choose a private burial, a common burial, cremation, or let the hospital handle the disposal. This notice must be provided within six hours of the loss or before the parent is discharged.
• Parents have 72 hours after receiving the notice to decide if they want to make their own arrangements for a burial or cremation. If they choose to do so, the hospital must follow state laws for handling the remains.
• If a hospital or birth center fails to follow these rules, the bill allows the affected individuals to sue in federal court. This provides a way for families to seek justice if their rights are ignored.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.