Recognize Life in Tennessee

On June 1, 2009 my son, Wyatt Nathaniel Finchum was born at 10:03 a.m. He had a faint heartbeat and was breathing, which was a miracle, as doctors advised us we would probably never see him alive. He died two minutes later. However, due to Tennessees definition of live birth, my doctor was not able to medically acknowledge his life. He was listed as stillborn. 

I won't deny the fact that my son was dying as soon as he was born, but he lived... he fought to breathe for those two minutes and his life deserves to be acknowledged. I would like to get Tennessees definition of live birth amended to a more acceptable definition that recognizes life no matter how short it may be.

It currently states:

"...the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, that, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Heartbeats shall be distinguished from transient cardiac contraction, and respirations shall be distinguished from fleeting respiratory efforts or gasps..."

I propose the definition to be changed to the State of Maines definition which states:

"...the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, that, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Each product of such a birth is considered live born and fully recognized as a human person under Maine (change to Tennessee) Law.

If you are a Tennessee resident, and support life to be recognized, please sign this petition. Also, listed below is a link to our elected officials contact information. E-mails, letters of support, and phone calls are greatly appreciated. I appreciate your help in getting my sons life recognized, and preventing other families from being told their childs life was not worth recognizing.

If you are NOT a Tennessee resident, but have family or friends in Tennessee, please direct them to my petition or have them contact their local representative, congressmen, senator, and governor. All local contact information for Tennessee can be found at: 

http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/government/elected.html

My personal points of contact are as follows.

Representative Richard Montgomery

301 6th Avenue North
Suite 201 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone (615) 741-5981
Fax (615) 253-0303

rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov

Senator Doug Overbey

301 6th Avenue North
Suite 4 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-0981
sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov

Governor Phil Bredesen

Governor's Office
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001

Phone: 615.741.2001
Fax: 615.532.9711
Phil.Bredesen@tn.gov

Thank your your support.