We often talk about records access and restrictions. As part of that dialogue, we often talk about the Death Master File (DMF) and restricted access to it.
RPAC recently posted Closing Death Records Is Just Dead Wrong! and states …
… The vast majority of these proposals have had the effect of limiting that access for genealogical and other purposes. The rationale used to justify most of these measures suggests an almost reflexive belief that the best or only way to prevent the fraudulent use of such data by identity thieves is to close the records thieves might have used…
… The robust notice and comment process employed by the Department of Commerce in implementing their statutory mandate has provided a forum for gathering actual impact information…
You can read more RPAC posts on the DMF here.
Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist, also ways in on this topic in her recent post, Documenting Death; open the records.
In essence, current thinking suggests that the premise for all the recently restrictive legislature, mostly based on anecdotal stories versus hard data, has resulted in the collection and analysis of data which does not seem to support that the stringent access measures in place are necessarily needed.
We will follow with interest future developments with regards to access to death records and appreciate, as always, RPAC keeping us apprised of current legislation and related, and its efforts on behalf of the genealogical community to preserve records and ensure appropriate access.
Do you agree? Either way, why or why not should death records be closed?
Editor’s Note: Read past posts on Upfront with NGS regarding the SSDI, DMF and related here.
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