Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1914 — State of Indiana [ARTICLE]

State of Indiana

STATE BOARD OF HEALTH Indianapolis, Feb. 9, 1914. I Editor Democrat, Renssealer, Indiana. Dear Sir:—Please permit the State Board of Healtlh to address your readers in regard to a matter which is of the utmost importance to all citizens and to the state. We refer to the importance of vital statistics which have been called the bookkeeping o-f huunlanity. It is indeed important to the state and to the family that an accurate record be kept of all births, deaths and con* tagipus diseases. Every day applications are made at this office for transcripts of these records to be used in the courts to settle rights to inheritance, pensions, and insurance. In some instances, reports of births are necessary to establish legitimacy and other facts. Those who ask for tfhcse transcripts invariably say—“l never deramed I would need suoh records.” Tn one instance, a little girl lost a legacy of $12,000 simply because the pfcysiciian. who attended jwhen she was born, did not make out a birf'h certificaite so that the same might be legally recorded. This was a terrible blow for a physician to strike at a little child. Had the physician taken three minutes to make out the certificate of birth and filed it as the law commands, the child would have received the inheritance left by an uncle in Switzerland.. In another instance, a young woman was kept out of the use of her property for 16 months because she could not prove the date of her birth. There are numerous instances of this character, and no one knows when he will have a like experience. ' ■ The law requires physicians and midwives to report all births within thirty-six hours after attendance or be subject to a fine and in addition their bill for services is made illegal and invalid. Failure op the part of physicians to report deaths they attend is punishable by a fine, and in addition the body cannot be buried until said report is made. If the body is buried without a certificate of death being made out by the attending physician and without a nermit for buiral being issued, it is •he duly of the coroner to disinter ite body, hold an inquest, and determine the afets required at law. You. will say these penalties are ■overe. and they are. These laws w re written by lawyers and judges who had had experience in the ■<ii’!t, and knew how important it is that these records be made. In conclusion we will say that the doctor who neglects or refuses io promptly report. the births, deaths and contagious diseases he is an enemy to the community ip -which lie lives. He ■ - a violator of the law. He ails in his duties to his patrons, and he faibs in his duties to the '-science of medicine which he practices. Every mother should see to it that her physician makes out a certificate of the birth of her children within thirty-six hours as the law commands. The mother is deeply interested and does not know when she will need the record. Very truly yours,

J. N. HURTY,

Secretary.