Safe Haven Laws

[Epi-do]

Just curious what everyone's opinion is. Does your state have one? Do you think it is effective?

I haven't done any recent research on it, but I know in the past they have said that these laws really don't statistically make much of a difference and that girls are still putting their unwanted babies in dumpsters.

I ask because I saw this earlier tonight.

Indiana's law states that you can turn the infant over to a firefighter, police officer, EMS personnel, or medical staff. I am not sure that the mother in the news story really followed the law by leaving the baby outside the door of the clinic. Yes, leaving the baby there was better than some of the alternative choices she could have made, but it sounds like the outcome probably wouldn't have been a positive one if the cleaning crew hadn't found the baby outside the door.

I am currently having some mixed feelings about this particular story, and was just curious what comments the rest of you may have.

 

[lfsvr0114]

We also have the Baby Moses Law, but the baby has to be placed into the arms of the EMS, Fire, Police or hospital not just left on the doorstep. This way, they can try to get some information about the baby, if the person is willing to talk.

 

[fm_emt]

California has one - Link here

I've seen news reports saying that people still don't know about the laws, especially those that don't speak any English.

 

[FF/EMT Sam]

Wow, I was just about to start a thread on this. Virginia lets us take a baby with no questions asked, provided that the infant is under 14 days old. However, we are to take the baby even if we believe it to be over 14 days old. My agency has no set protocols for following Safe Haven laws, so if I was ever in that situation, I'd try to get the mother to stay long enough to fill out this form, used by an agency in my region.

PS: For my fellow Virginia EMTs, you can find a good summary of our Safe Haven law here.

 

[Epi-do]

Ok, I did some research and found Indiana's Safe Haven Law. I was correct in stating that she probably won't be protected by the law since it states the baby must physically be given to a person and not merely left at the door of an appropriate location.

I don't have an issue with the fact that the mother felt she couldn't keep the baby. My issue is with the fact that she left the baby outside.

 

[lfsvr0114]

Just last week, there was a lady that threw her baby in a dumpster. She kept her pregnancy hidden from family because she said she was sexually abused. A family member remembers her being in the bathroom for a bit and then taking out a trashbag. The lady ended up going to the hospital and there it was discovered that she had recently given birth. The lady refused to tell authorities where the baby was, and later it was discovered in the dumpster dead. They are doing an autopsy to find out if the baby was born alive or stillborn to see what charges they will file.

A lot of people still do not understand the law. They do not understand that they will not get into trouble to give the baby to proper authorities. They need to make this information available in all languages and publish it in newspapers, magazines and put it in DR. offices. It still may not be understood by everyone, but at least more people will be informed.

 

[Airwaygoddess]

That just happened in my neck of the woods around Christmastime. body was found in a dumpster. It's that kind of stuff that breaks my heart and I sometimes find it hard to have and find faith in human nature.:sad: