[LEAPSECS] Computer Network Time Synchronization, 2nd Ed.

[Gerard Ashton]

Although statements of birthdays are seldom accompanied by explicit 
statements of the
time zone, the place of birth is usually available so the time zone can 
be reconstructed.
As for what is recorded on a birth certificate, there is no telling what 
might be recorded;
there are more than 14,000 kinds of birth certificate in circulation in 
the US alone.*

Certainly time of day must be accurately recorded, with an accuracy of a 
few minutes,
on medical records, so the infant may be properly cared for during the 
first several hours
of life. This must include time zone if the infant is transported, or 
might be transported,
across time zone boundaries. It must also indicate daylight saving time 
or standard time
indication if close to the changeover.

In addition to affecting infant medical care, the time indication may be 
used to determine
whether the infant or mother had health insurance in force, or the 
extent of coverage,
in case the birth occurred close to the beginning or end of the 
insurance term, or close
to the time a change in coverage terms occurred.

I personally had one case where I, as a volunteer emergency medical 
technician, was
taking care of a patient during the hour of daylight time that would 
"disappear" when
the clock "fell back" in the fall, so I had to squeeze the designations 
"EDT" and "EST"
next to each time on the patient care report (which was not designed to 
accept
these designations).

*http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-07-99-00570.pdf "Birth Certificate 
Fraud", Dept. of
Health and Human Services Inspector General's Office, 2000, p. ii.

On 12/7/2011 10:57 AM, Poul-Henning Kamp wrote, in part:

> Correct, but you don't use all of that for birthdays, because you

> don't record the timezone of birth.

>

> My son was born on march 31 in California on Mount Diablo Hospital.

>

> But at the time it was April 1st in Denmark.

>

> Yet his birthday is 31st of march, no matter where on the world he

> choses to celebrate it.

>

> Birthdays simply don't have timezone inforation attached to them,

> end of story.

>

> Consequently, if anybody claims that UT1 as distinct from UTC has

> any relevance for birthcertificates, I want to see the proof, because

> the claim is entirely nonsensical and counter intuitive in every

> way.

>

>