Problems with Nebraska's Safe Haven Law Coming to Light

Sunday September 28, 2008

Nine children, ages 1 to 17, were left at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room late Wednesday by their father and according to Nebraska's new safe-haven law, it's not abandonment.

The law went into effect in July and allows parents to abandon children at any state-licensed hospital without fear of prosecution. Safe-haven laws are usually enacted to protect infants, but Nebraska amended the law to include children and teenagers. The use of the word "child" in the law has left much to interpretation, hence the recent abandonment of Nebraska pre-teens and teens.

At least 4 children between the ages of 11 and 15 have been abandoned by parents since the law took effect. Nebraska was the last state in the nation to adopt a safe haven law. What a great job they did too.

I must say that I am against safe haven laws, I'm against abandonment in general. However, I'm also against babies in dumpsters. Isn't there a way to enact a law that protects the infant's life and identity?

Don’t safe-haven laws give an easy out to parenting? Remember the baby hatch that was opened in Japan last May? Yes, it's like a drive-through baby depository, just another convenience of modern living.

What are your views on safe-haven laws? Join the discussion on this hot topic.

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