[Fetuses born lifeless: new representations and new rights]

A february-2008 rule about << children born lifeless >> stressed that << every fetus born lifeless >> could be registered at the General Register Office. This rule, which was followed in 2009 by the implementation of new procedures to deal with dead fetuses, highlighted that this topic is more and more becoming an important public issue. The rights for parents to choose has now been recognized, bringing about new questions for health professionals. Another point is which symbolism is to be given to dead fetuses to alleviate couples' suffering, without being too ideological, i.e. seeing fetuses as persons. This change also makes professionals reconsider public health system priorities, and this at a very particular time. Indeed, as parent mourning has now been made easier through registration at the General Register Office, there has not been any rule yet linking national epidemiological registration and fetal death in France. double dagger.