Professor Richard Greene:

This is probably a somewhat dry subject for many people, particularly those who have lost babies, but I will endeavour to clarify the point raised by Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor. The legislation refers to a stillbirth as involving a baby without signs of life at the time of birth, while a neonatal death is considered to occur if the baby dies after birth and has shown signs of life. However, there is no definition or description of what is encompassed in "signs of life". Essentially, if there is a heartbeat or gasp, it is taken as the baby having shown signs of life.