STV NEWS - BABY LOSS AWARENESS WEEK
From STV News: http://bit.ly/2ycB6Gp
Parents who lose a baby have right to know how they died
North Ayrshire and Arran MP describes UK stillbirth rate as 'unacceptably high'.
Ms Gibson told MPs more must be done to understand stillbirth.
Parents should never have to bury a baby without knowing or understanding why they died, the Commons has heard.
SNP MP Patricia Gibson said the UK's stillbirth rate remained "unacceptably" and "stubbornly high" despite falling slightly in recent years.
Ms Gibson has asked for fatal accident inquiries in Scotland and coroner inquests in England to be instigated when stillbirths at full term occur in an otherwise healthy baby.
The North Ayrshire and Arran MP, whose baby was stillborn in 2009, said she appreciated such processes were expensive, complicated and difficult.
But she said but the lessons which could be learned would improve the care for future babies.
Speaking in a Commons debate on Baby Loss Awareness Week, Ms Gibson said Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison has agreed to investigate the possibility of her idea.
She told MPs: "The significance of this development cannot be overstated.
"If after consideration the Crown Office in Scotland decides for whatever reason this cannot be done, then at least we know where we are, what obstacles we're dealing with and we can set about removing them.
"And I am convinced this measure will mean fewer of our babies die.
"When that is shown to be the case, I'm hugely optimistic a similar measure will be adopted in England."
Ms Gibson said October 15 would have been her "wee boy's eighth birthday" as well as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
She said: "It's very important that his death and the death of all the babies who have been lost have not been in vain.
"The campaign goes on so other babies don't have their lives ended before they even begin."
Ms Gibson added: "No parent should have to bury their child and not know or understand why they didn't live.
"That's what drives me on and I know that's what drives on so many of us in this debate today."
