Who is responsible for filing a fetal death certificate?

The correct choice regarding who is responsible for filing a fetal death certificate is the funeral director. In Iowa, when a fetal death occurs, it is typically the funeral director who manages the necessary paperwork, including the filing of the fetal death certificate. This is part of the funeral director's responsibilities in handling the disposition of remains and ensuring compliance with state regulations surrounding death and burial.

While the attending physician may provide the medical certification of the fetal death, they are not the ones who file the certificate. The mother, although impacted by the loss, is not held legally responsible for filing this certificate. The local health department may be involved in the overall management of health records and vital statistics, but the actual filing process falls to the funeral director, who is trained to ensure that all legal requirements are met efficiently and appropriately.