General provisions

1. In order to protect vital records from loss, mutilation, or destruction and to prevent improper disclosure of confidential information, a person may not be allowed direct physical access to the original vital records in the custody and care of the state registrars. Every person wishing to review records or desiring information contained in such records must make a request for a certified copy to the state registrar. 2. Nothing in this section may be construed to permit disclosure of information contained in the "confidential information for medical and health use only" section of vital records unless specifically authorized by the state registrar for statistical research or if authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction. 3. The state registrar may furnish data from vital records for statistical research purposes, subject to such conditions as the state registrar may impose. Data may not be furnished from records under this subsection until the state registrar has prepared in writing the conditions under which the data will be used and received a data use agreement signed by a responsible agent of the research organization agreeing to meet with and conform to such conditions.