I have a few well founded gripes about the Safe Haven law.
Let’s start with the areas that hospitals and other buildings have set up for safe drop off areas. In my experience, these areas are, both fortunately and unfortunately, high traffic areas, such as major entrances or a small alcove off of a well traveled and often used hallway. It’s good that these areas are viewed by people and hospital staff, so any deposited newborns can be immediately whisked away for care and proper adoption placement. But it’s bad because many parents might feel too ashamed and afraid to venture into such a populated area and leave their baby behind.
I’m not sure what a solution would be. Perhaps a separate, slightly isolated entrance to a room that is monitored by video cameras?
My next REALLY big complaint is the publicity surrounding any drop-offs that occur. I can’t tell you how many times I have read various news websites and saw headlines about newborns being dropped off at such and such place, around such and such time. I thought the whole purpose of the Safe Haven law was to give parents an opportunity to leave their baby without any repercussions or exposure. When you mention the details surrounding a baby being dropped off, it won’t take someone long to put two and two together and point a finger towards a parent or parents within their community or neighborhood.
My final complaint about the Safe Haven law is the age cut off. In all honesty, I feel that parents should be able to leave behind older babies, and even toddlers. Let’s face it, circumstances can quickly change, and there may be situations that arise where it is definitely in the child’s best interest for him to be turned over to a hospital or state agency, with no action being brought against the parent or parents. Sadly, because right now that kind of thing isn’t legal, there are many instances of toddlers being left to wander in parking lots with notes attached to them, or worse yet, being killed and their bodies then destroyed or hidden.
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Name: Alyssa
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