March 3rd, 2011, a dead newborn baby was discovered in a dumpster in California. The mother told her attorney that she didn’t realize she was pregnant. Riiiight. (Story 1)
In North Carolina, a 2 to 3 day old dead baby was found in a convenience store’s bathroom garbage can. Video surveillance shows the mother and a male companion carrying a bag into the store and leaving with a lighter bag. She later admitted that she didn’t know if her boyfriend was the father. (Story 2)
In Georgia, a young mother was transported to the hospital, only to find out that she had already given birth and dumped the newborn into a trash can outside of her home. (Story 3)
In California, another teenage mother was being treated for post-delivery symptoms when the hospital notified police about the suspicious circumstances.
The stories go on and on and are particularly abundant in some 3rd world countries.
In many of the cases, the mothers needed medical treatment for the delivery and the hospital’s responsibility to report the suspicious incidents helped locate the body, unceremoniously dumped in a trash can.
And in many cases, the mothers face prosecution for charges varying from abandonment to murder.
Many of the mothers were trying to conceal the birth from their parents or significant others.
Many of the people watching/reading the news are trying to have children and would’ve jumped at the chance to adopt a child, any child, only to watch a life get literally thrown away for no good reason.
Most cities, counties and states have options for the unwanted children.
They have assorted titles (“Safe Surrender”, etc) and different time limits for the babies to be turned over, but the message is the same.
The baby can be left at an appropriate facility, with no implications and prosecution, as long as no abuse is involved. The baby will be cared for and a loving family will be found.
In Nevada, we have the “Safe Haven Infant Protection Act”. It allows someone to surrender a baby with no fear of arrest or prosecution. No names are documented, and any info given will be kept confidential. (Safe Haven)
The baby has to be 30 days old or younger and can be brought into any hospital or urgent care facility, any occupied law enforcement agency or public firefighting agency. An ambulance can be called (911) to transport the baby to a hospital. The appropriate child care services will take custody of the child and make arrangements to place the child in a foster home. The parent can later petition to get custody of the child.
The law requires that the appropriate agencies know about the Safe Haven Act, but not much information has been distributed to the public.
I haven’t seen a public service announcement reference this service.
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