TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT
DIVISION 2: EXECUTIVE BRANCH
§ 26005. Definitions. The following terms are hereby defined as follows: (a) “Dead body” means a human body or such parts of human body from the condition of which it reasonably may be concluded that death occurred. (b) “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 and which is not an induced termination 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. Heartbeats are to be distinguished from transient cardiac contractions; respirations are to be distinguished from fleeting respiratory efforts or gasps. (c) “File” means the presentation and acceptance of a vital record or report provided for in this Act for registration by the Health and Vital Statistics Office of the Department of Public Health. (d) “Filing date of” means the date a vital record is accepted for registration by the Health and Vital Statistics Office of the Department of Public Health. (e) “Final disposition” means the burial, interment, cremation, removal from the CNMI, or other authorized disposition of a dead body or fetus. (f) “Institution” means any establishment, public or private, which provides in-patient or out-patient medical, surgical, or diagnostic care or treatment or nursing, custodial, or domiciliary care, or to which persons are committed by law. (g) “Live birth” means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes, or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Heartbeats are to be distinguished from transient cardiac contractions; respirations are to be distinguished from fleeting respiratory efforts or gasps. (h) “Physician” means a person authorized or licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy pursuant to the laws of the CNMI. (i) “Registration” means the process by which vital records are completed, filed, and incorporated into the official records of the Health and Vital Statistics Office. (j) “System of vital statistics” means the registration, collection, preservation, amendment, and certification of vital records; the collection of other reports required by this Act; and activities related thereto including the tabulation, analysis, publication, and dissemination of vital statistics. (k) “Vital records” means certificates or reports of birth, death, and data related thereto. (l) “Vital reports” means reports of fetal death and induced termination of pregnancy and data related thereto. (m) “Vital statistics” means the data derived from certificates and reports of birth, death, fetal death, induced termination of pregnancy, and related reports. Source: PL 15-50, § 3.