Death certificate information restricted New law blocks media, public from learning how person died The Associated Press By Todd Richmond MADISON -- Death certificates won't list how a person died anymore, under new laws that take effect Jan. 1. Starting Wednesday, details of a death, including the cause and the deceased's long-term health problems, will no longer appear on death certificates. Only immediate family, direct descendants, government workers and others with a direct and tangible interest will have access to the information for the first 50 years after a person's death. There's people who want to know what someone died of who don't really need to know, said Chippewa County Coroner Katherine Gerrits. The press, for one. Most Wisconsin bills become law soon after the Legislature and the governor approve them, but the death certificate change is one of seven laws that state legislators decided will take effect on New Year's Day. Closing death certificate information has caused a stir among journalists. Wisconsin Newspaper Association executive director Sandra George said the provision reflects a disturbing trend of government officials closing public records. Wisconsin was one of 14 states that included cause of death and health details on death certificates, said John Chapin, state Bureau of Health Statistics interim director. Officials wanted to close the information to bring Wisconsin in line with other states, he said. Peggy Peterson, state Vital Records Office field representative, said some complained death certificates included too many details. Under the new law, families can decide whether to give out details of a death while settling estates and benefits. Government workers will still have full run of details to study death rates and trends, Peterson said. A committee of coroners, police officers and media representatives is working to define who has direct and tangible interest in the closed information. George said the biggest danger in the new law is some public officials may refuse to release the cause of death. Autopsy reports remain public record under Wisconsin law, and people can still talk to reporters, she said.

I think that the new law is a blow to the genealogists. How in the world did that go through? Maryellen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Schwartz" <lschwartz@mindspring.com> To: <WIDUNN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 4:36 PM Subject: [DUNN] Wis Death Certificate Changes Death certificate information restricted New law blocks media, public from learning how person died The Associated Press By Todd Richmond MADISON -- Death certificates won't list how a person died anymore, under new laws that take effect Jan. 1. Starting Wednesday, details of a death, including the cause and the deceased's long-term health problems, will no longer appear on death certificates. Only immediate family, direct descendants, government workers and others with a direct and tangible interest will have access to the information for the first 50 years after a person's death. There's people who want to know what someone died of who don't really need to know, said Chippewa County Coroner Katherine Gerrits. The press, for one. Most Wisconsin bills become law soon after the Legislature and the governor approve them, but the death certificate change is one of seven laws that state legislators decided will take effect on New Year's Day. Closing death certificate information has caused a stir among journalists. Wisconsin Newspaper Association executive director Sandra George said the provision reflects a disturbing trend of government officials closing public records. Wisconsin was one of 14 states that included cause of death and health details on death certificates, said John Chapin, state Bureau of Health Statistics interim director. Officials wanted to close the information to bring Wisconsin in line with other states, he said. Peggy Peterson, state Vital Records Office field representative, said some complained death certificates included too many details. Under the new law, families can decide whether to give out details of a death while settling estates and benefits. Government workers will still have full run of details to study death rates and trends, Peterson said. A committee of coroners, police officers and media representatives is working to define who has direct and tangible interest in the closed information. George said the biggest danger in the new law is some public officials may refuse to release the cause of death. Autopsy reports remain public record under Wisconsin law, and people can still talk to reporters, she said. ==== WIDUNN Mailing List ==== Locate CURRENT Dunn County OBITUARIES at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~widunn/obitindx.htm