Ind. Code § 16-49-6-1 "Fetal death"
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "fetal death" refers to a stillbirth.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Ind. Code ch. 16-49-6
Ind. Code ch. 16-49-6
in effectInd. Code § 16-49-6-2 "Infant death"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "infant death" refers to the death of a child who is less than one (1) year of age.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 16-49-6-3 "Local fetal-infant mortality review team"
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "local fetal-infant mortality review team" or "review team" refers to:
(1) a county fetal-infant mortality review team; or
(2) a regional fetal-infant mortality review team formed by multiple counties through a written agreement.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 16-49-6-4 Establishment of local fetal-infant mortality review team; notification; duties
Sec. 4. (a) A:
(1) local health department;
(2) hospital licensed under IC 16-21; or
(3) person or entity approved by the state department;
may establish a local fetal-infant mortality review team to review fetal deaths and infant deaths for the purpose of gathering information concerning fetal deaths and infant deaths and to use the information gathered to improve community resources and systems of care to reduce fetal deaths and infant deaths.
(b) Upon the establishment of a local fetal-infant mortality review team under this section, the review team shall notify the statewide fetal-infant mortality review coordinator of the establishment of the review team.
(c) A local fetal-infant mortality review team:
(1) shall review the fetal death or infant death of a resident of; and
(2) may review the fetal death or infant death that occurred in;
the county or area for which the review team is established.
(d) A local fetal-infant mortality review team shall do the following:
(1) Identify similarities, trends, and factual patterns concerning fetal deaths and infant deaths in the area served by the review team.
(2) Identify reasons for any higher minority fetal or infant mortality rate in the area served by the review team.
(3) Create strategies and make recommendations for the prevention and reduction of fetal deaths and infant deaths, including minority fetal and infant deaths, in the area served by the review team.
(e) A local fetal-infant mortality review team may do any of the following:
(1) Determine factors contributing to fetal deaths and infant deaths.
(2) Identify public health and clinical interventions to improve systems of care and enhance coordination.
(3) Develop strategies for the prevention of fetal deaths and infant deaths.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 16-49-6-5 Members of review team; quarterly meetings
Sec. 5. (a) A local fetal-infant mortality review team shall be multidisciplinary and culturally diverse. The review team should include professionals and representatives of agencies that provide services or community resources for families in the community.
(b) Members may include representatives from the following disciplines:
(1) Obstetrics.
(2) Mental health.
(3) Pediatrics.
(4) Family medicine.
(5) Public health nursing.
(6) Maternal fetal medicine.
(7) Emergency medical services.
(8) Social work.
(9) Addiction medicine.
(c) Members may also include any of the following:
(1) A coroner or deputy coroner.
(2) An epidemiologist.
(3) A pathologist.
(4) A law enforcement representative.
(5) A representative of the Indiana Minority Health Coalition.
(d) The local fetal-infant mortality review team shall select a member to serve as chairperson of the review team.
(e) The local fetal-infant mortality review team shall meet at least quarterly.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 16-49-6-6 Review of records; access to records; immunity; confidentiality
Sec. 6. (a) In conducting a review under this chapter, the local fetal-infant mortality review team may review all applicable records and information related to the death, including the following:
(1) Records held by any of the following:
(A) The state department.
(B) A local health department, including certificates of death or certificates of stillbirths.
(C) The department of child services.
(2) Medical records.
(3) Law enforcement records.
(4) Coroner records, including autopsy reports.
(5) Mental health records.
(6) Emergency medical services and fire department run reports.
(7) Qualitative results of a family or maternal interview.
(b) The following shall provide to the local fetal-infant mortality review team, in good faith, access to records concerning a case under review under this chapter:
(1) A health care provider.
(2) A health care facility.
(3) An individual.
(4) An entity.
(c) A person described in subsection (b) that provides access to records in good faith under this section is not subject to liability in:
(1) a civil;
(2) an administrative;
(3) a disciplinary; or
(4) a criminal;
action that might otherwise be imposed as a result of the disclosure.
(d) Except as otherwise provided under this chapter, information and records acquired and interviews conducted by the local fetal-infant mortality review team in the exercise of the review team's duties under this chapter are confidential and exempted from disclosure.
(e) Records, information, documents, and reports acquired or produced by the local fetal-infant mortality review team are not:
(1) subject to subpoena or discovery; or
(2) admissible as evidence;
in any judicial or administrative proceeding. Information that is otherwise discoverable or admissible from original sources is not immune from discovery or use in any proceeding merely because the information was presented during proceedings before the review team.
(f) The local fetal-infant mortality review team members and individuals who attend a local fetal-infant mortality review team meeting at the invitation of the chairperson shall maintain the confidentiality of records and information discussed and disseminated during the meeting.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 16-49-6-7 Statewide fetal-infant mortality review coordinator
Sec. 7. The state department shall employ a statewide fetal-infant mortality review coordinator to assist local fetal-infant mortality review teams and do the following:
(1) Establish local fetal-infant mortality review teams statewide.
(2) Act as a liaison between the statewide child fatality review committee and local fetal-infant mortality review teams.
(3) Create and provide forms, including a data collection form for the data described in section 8(d) of this chapter.
(4) Develop protocols for meetings of and case reviews conducted by local fetal-infant mortality review teams.
(5) Provide data collection tools that include collecting and storing the following information:
(A) Identifying and nonidentifying information.
(B) Information concerning the circumstances surrounding a fetal death or an infant death.
(C) Information concerning factors that contributed to a fetal death or an infant death.
(D) Information concerning findings and recommendations concerning a fetal death or infant death by the review team.
(6) Provide information on the prevention of fetal deaths and infant deaths.
(7) Obtain certificates of death and certificates of stillbirths for the review teams.
(8) Coordinate local or statewide training concerning a fetal death or infant death review under this chapter.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 16-49-6-8 Report; confidentiality; data
Sec. 8. (a) Before July 1 of each year, a local fetal-infant mortality review team shall submit a report to the state department that includes the following information:
(1) A summary of the data collected concerning the reviews conducted by the local fetal-infant mortality review team for the previous calendar year.
(2) Actions recommended by the local fetal-infant mortality review team to improve systems of care and community resources to reduce fetal deaths and infant deaths in the area served by the review team.
(3) Solutions proposed for any system inadequacies.
(b) The report described in subsection (a) may not contain identifying information relating to the deaths reviewed by the local fetal-infant mortality review team.
(c) Review data concerning a fetal death or an infant death is confidential and may not be released.
(d) The local fetal-infant mortality review team may provide the state department with data concerning the reviews of a death under this chapter, including any records held or maintained by the local fetal-infant mortality review team.
(e) The state department shall maintain the confidentiality of any data received under subsection (d).
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.96-2026, SEC.55.
Ind. Code § 16-49-6-9 Open meetings; executive session
Sec. 9. (a) Except as provided under subsection (b), a local fetal-infant mortality review team meeting is open to the public.
(b) A local fetal-infant mortality review team meeting that involves confidential records or identifying information concerning a fetal death or an infant death that is confidential under state or federal law must be held as a executive session.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 16-49-6-10 Confidentiality of records; immunity
Sec. 10. (a) Local fetal-infant mortality review team members and individuals who attend a local fetal-infant mortality review team meeting at the invitation of the chairperson shall maintain the confidentiality of records and information discussed and disseminated during a local fetal-infant mortality review team meeting.
(b) The local fetal-infant mortality review team members and individuals who attend a review team meeting at the invitation of the chairperson:
(1) may discuss among themselves confidential matters that are before the local fetal-infant mortality review team; and
(2) are, except when acting:
(A) with malice;
(B) in bad faith; or
(C) with negligence;
immune from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be imposed as a result of sharing among themselves those matters.
(c) The discussions, determinations, conclusions, and recommendations of the local fetal-infant mortality review team or its members concerning a review of a fatality at a review team meeting:
(1) are privileged; and
(2) are not:
(A) subject to subpoena or discovery; or
(B) admissible as evidence;
in any judicial or administrative proceeding.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Ind. Code § 16-49-6-11 Other investigations not precluded
Sec. 11. Nothing in this chapter shall preclude any death, illness, or injury investigation or review to the extent authorized by other laws.
As added by P.L.31-2019, SEC.5.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/16Fetched: 10/17/2026