I was just watching out local news and there was a feature on babies being abandoned in hospitals in Oregon and Washington after a baby was abandoned in a Vancouver Wa Hospital. (short brief: http://www.katu.com/stories/86970.html ). The infant is fine thank goodness!!!
I didn't know this but I guess it is legal to abandon your baby in a hospital or fire station within a certain period of time in the two states. Washington state it is 72 hours after birth, Oregon it is 30 days. I had no idea about that law!!! So this woman will not get punishment or repremand for doing this. The article did say that if there were signs of abuse, that a parent then is held responsible and will face an abuse charge.
They said that the child will be a toddler before she would be able for adoption because of the process of trying to find a family member who may want her (the woman left a fake name so it is hard to find her or family)...and other things the state must do.
That seems so sad for this infant, however...maybe living with the mother would be far worse?
Do you think it should remain legal to abandon your infant at a hospital or fire station?
I have to agree. I don't want to participate in a potential ''you're bashing Dads'' debate could arise from saying this, but how many stories do we have to hear about 3 or 4 or 5 year olds that are living happily with their adoptive families when their biological father, who apparently didn't have a long enough relationship with the mother to have been around even just a few months later when pregnancy would've been apparent, deciding their rights are more important than their child's happiness and well being? It is especially galling when these men have other children out of wedlock that aren't supporting financially. Why do parents' rights count more than children's rights in this country? I never could figure that one out!
I agree with you and Jolie 100%.
I also agree with the Safe Haven law 100%.
I only wish there was more advertisement about this law so that the people who could benefit from it might actually find out about the law in time.
Outlaw family planning, and this is the result. If you deny a women access to sex education; to the pill or the morning after pill; then refuse her an abortion, what other choice do you leave someone who is poor, young and/or scared?
It cannot be had both ways.
As my old family lifr teacher said in high school:
Knowledge breeds respect ignorance just breeds.....
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
That is where things get tricky isn't it! I don't know the specifics, but I don't think the mother should ever be allowed to take the child back!
However, what if the mother did this on her own? What about the father, the fathers family or even the mothers family that may not have known about this (lots of sceneros for this...divorsed parents living out of state, mother's family never knew about the preg, etc.). What about their rights to the baby? Are their good laws in place to provide safety and fairness to the families of this that had no part in it? That was my concern, and bigger yet...what if being in that family dynamic is unhealthy even if they had no idea what happened? Do they still have a right? Uhggggggg...I see a big kettle of fish on that one!
A parent nightmare for me, my son when he gets older gets a girl pregnant and doesn't tell me, and she does this without my sons knowledge or even with...and I would have no rights to raise the baby myself! (heck just the pregancy would be a nightmare for me if he wasn't married and planning it!).
Lots to think about huh?
Grandparents don't have any automatic rights to their grandchildren. They sometimes end up with their grandchildren if their children die or go to prison, but rare indeed is the time a court orders a parent to give a child to the grandparent. They can choose adoption, or in this case, safe haven, instead. As far as the father goes, I do believe a good faith effort should be made to locate him, but I don't think any parent should have the right to rescind a successful adoption after the child is happily ensconsed in his family. Why do the rights of biological parents trump those of children? I've never received a logical answer to that question, and I've asked it many times, to many people, over the years.
Last year in my state a baby was dumped into a port-a-john and another one was dumped in a trash bin at the airport. I am sad that any infant is abandoned but I wish the mothers of those infants who were killed would have taken the time to turn the in. In our state it is legal to drop them off at a fire station or hospital within 72 hours of birth.
Its legal in AZ. The hospital down the street from me has a drawer in the ER where the baby can be placed and when its closed the baby is inside the hospital. Ive talked to several nurses who said theyve had babies dropped off there and it works out really well. Of course then they go into the "system" and thats a whole different story. But it beats hearing about them in the dumpster. Especially in AZ where right now its 113 degrees.
I thought that when the mom dropped the baby off like this she gave up rights. Must be different state to state. Anyone know?
I read about a hospital with a "baby box". There was a door in the ER wall to the outside ambulance bay. (Bad analogy, but like a passthrough in the wall from the bathroom to the lab for urine collection). A woman could put her baby inside, then the door wouldn't open again and an alarm in the ER nurse's station would go off and the nurse could go to the inside of the door and retrieve the baby. Mom stays anonymous and the baby is immediately cared for. I think these are a great idea. Lots of time these Moms are overwhelmed and need an out right now before they lose it, but once they have time to cool off, they can make a better decision... and the baby is safe while she does it. Should we give babies back to these moms? That's a whole 'nother question I won't get into...
Yet, another newborn found 2 days ago in a dumpster behind a casino here in Las Vegas. It is legal here to leave the baby at a hospital, fire station, etc. I haven't read the story on the dear baby, but EVERYONE would have benefited by giving that baby a good life by just doing the right thing. So sad. I hope they find (catch) the parents.
I was just watching out local news and there was a feature on babies being abandoned in hospitals in Oregon and Washington after a baby was abandoned in a Vancouver Wa Hospital. (short brief: http://www.katu.com/stories/86970.html ). The infant is fine thank goodness!!!
I didn't know this but I guess it is legal to abandon your baby in a hospital or fire station within a certain period of time in the two states. Washington state it is 72 hours after birth, Oregon it is 30 days. I had no idea about that law!!! So this woman will not get punishment or repremand for doing this. The article did say that if there were signs of abuse, that a parent then is held responsible and will face an abuse charge.
They said that the child will be a toddler before she would be able for adoption because of the process of trying to find a family member who may want her (the woman left a fake name so it is hard to find her or family)...and other things the state must do.
That seems so sad for this infant, however...maybe living with the mother would be far worse?
Do you think it should remain legal to abandon your infant at a hospital or fire station?
Yes. It sure beats finding them in a dumpster or gas station toilet.
I'm not sure if it's law here yet, but our ER has received many calls asking if they can bring their babies without being prosecuted. We always say yes. Can you imagine how it would feel if you say no and lated find a baby in a landfill?
It happens a lot more than people might think as well. I live in a tiny rural area and one of my classmates gave birth at home, put the baby in a garbage bag and buried it. One of my husband's classmates gave birth in a bathroom stall, hemorrhaged and died. Her baby drowned.
I think it's wonderful that mothers can leave their babies in a safe place so they have a better future....hell, any future!! Sure beats what happened to these 2 babies. THAT was terribly sad. Giving your baby up is not.
Gompers, BSN, RN
2,691 Posts
I agree with you and Jolie 100%.
I also agree with the Safe Haven law 100%.
I only wish there was more advertisement about this law so that the people who could benefit from it might actually find out about the law in time.