§32. Definition of terms
As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them
in this Section unless otherwise provided for or unless the context otherwise indicates:
(1)"Biological parents" means a husband and wife, joined by legal marriage
recognized as valid in this state, who provide sperm and egg for in vitro fertilization,
performed by a licensed physician, when the resulting fetus is carried and delivered by a
surrogate birth parent who is related by blood or affinity to either the husband or wife.
(2)"Dead body" means a lifeless human body or such severed parts of the human
body, or the bones thereof, from the state of which it may be reasonably concluded that death
has recently occurred.
(3)"Fetal death" means death prior to the complete expulsi
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§32. Definition of terms
As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them
in this Section unless otherwise provided for or unless the context otherwise indicates:
(1) "Biological parents" means a husband and wife, joined by legal marriage
recognized as valid in this state, who provide sperm and egg for in vitro fertilization,
performed by a licensed physician, when the resulting fetus is carried and delivered by a
surrogate birth parent who is related by blood or affinity to either the husband or wife.
(2) "Dead body" means a lifeless human body or such severed parts of the human
body, or the bones thereof, from the state of which it may be reasonably concluded that death
has recently occurred.
(3) "Fetal death" means death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its
mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy; the
death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or extraction the fetus does not breathe
or show any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical
cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles.
(4) "File" means the presentation of a vital record provided for in this Chapter for
registration by the vital records registry.
(5) "Final disposition" means the burial, interment, cremation, removal from the
state, or other authorized disposition of a dead body or fetus.
(6) "Funeral director or person acting as such" is a licensed funeral director or
embalmer as defined in R.S. 37:831 et seq. or persons acting under the authority of the state
health officer in accordance with R.S. 40:5.
(7) "Induced termination of pregnancy" (abortion) means the purposeful interruption
of pregnancy with the intention other than to produce a live-born infant or to remove a dead
fetus and if 1 such interruption does not result in a live birth.
(8) "Institution" means any establishment, public or private, which provides inpatient
medical, surgical, or diagnostic care or treatment or nursing, custodial, or domiciliary care,
or to which persons are committed by law.
(9) "Live birth" means a birth in which the child shows evidence of life after
complete birth. A birth is complete when the child is entirely outside the mother, even if the
umbilical cord is uncut and the placenta still attached. The words "evidence of life" include
heart action, breathing, or movement of voluntary muscles.
(10) "Person in charge of interment" means any person who places or causes to be
placed a deceased or stillborn child, dead body, or, after cremation, the ashes thereof, in the
earth, a grave, tomb, vault, urn, or other receptacle, either in a cemetery or at any other place,
or otherwise disposes thereof.
(11) "Physician" means a person authorized under the laws of this state to practice
medicine.
(12) "Public health statistics unit" means that section which codes, tabulates,
analyzes, reports, and coordinates vital records and other health status indicator data for the
office of public health.
(13) "Registration" as otherwise qualified in rules and regulations means the
acceptance of vital records by the vital records registry and the incorporation thereof into its
official records.
(14) "Removal" means the transportation of a dead human body or the remains
thereof from the jurisdiction of the state of Louisiana.
(15) "Signature" or "sign(ed)" means a written signature or an electronic signature.
(16) "Spontaneous fetal death" and "stillbirth" mean the expulsion or extraction of
a product of human conception resulting in other than a live birth and when the expulsion
or extraction is not the result of an induced termination of pregnancy.
(17) "System of vital records" means the registration, collection, preservation,
amendment, certification, and issuance of certified copies of vital records required by this
Chapter and activities related thereto.
(18) "Vital records", "certificates", or "forms" means paper or electronic reports of
birth, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, dissolution of marriage, or annulment, and data
related thereto.
(19) "Vital records registry" means a central registry as provided for in R.S. 40:33(A)
which maintains the vital records archives and operates the system of vital records.
1 As appears in enrolled bill.