Bill streamlining post-stillbirth paperwork passes Pa. House unanimously
Rep. Gina H. Curry March 26, 2026
HARRISBURG, March 26 – Families who experience loss during a midwife-led birth could soon avoid the added trauma of completing fetal death paperwork thanks to legislation introduced by state Rep. Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware, that passed House unanimously yesterday.
“Right now, only a physician, certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant can complete required fetal death reports after a stillbirth delivery or infant death during birth,” said Curry. “But many families choose to have midwife-led deliveries during which these professionals are not on hand. In these cases, the process of completing the death certificate becomes a significant emotional burden for grieving parents.”
Allowing certified midwives to complete and sign fetal death certificates would streamline the process and allow grieving families to move forward. Under current law, if a death certificate is needed and no qualifying professional was present during the delivery, the case must be referred to the county coroner for investigation.
“Imagine going into labor only to experience the death of your expected child and then being asked to sit back and wait while the county coroner investigates the passing, simply because you chose to work with a midwife instead of a doctor,” said Curry. “These families are already in a state of emotional distress. Midwives are highly trained, compassionate medical professionals, and there’s no reason they can’t complete this process for their patients.”
The American Midwifery Certification Board reports that as of 2025, there were 590 certified nurse midwives working in Pennsylvania.
H.B. 1851 now moves to the state Senate for consideration.