Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Why Parents of Stillborn Babies May Only Apply for Commemorative Birth Certificates on a Case-By-Case Basis

Question:

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) why parents of stillborn babies may only apply for Commemorative Birth Certificates (BCs) on a case-by-case basis rather than having these BCs being issued as a matter of course; and (b) whether such parents are informed of the availability of such an option in the event that they have a stillborn child.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1. A Commemorative Birth Certificate (CBC) includes the name of a stillborn child for remembrance purposes. As the decision on whether to name a stillborn child is a very personal and sensitive one, CBCs are issued only upon request.

2. As maternity hospitals are the main touchpoints for the parents, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has liaised with the hospitals to inform affected parents of the option of obtaining a CBC. ICA has also published the information on its website.