No Questions Asked: Abandoned Baby Law Provides Safe Harbor for Newborns
MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM LOCATIONS
Memorial Regional Hospital
3501 Johnson Street Hollywood, Florida
Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
1000 Joe DiMaggio Drive Hollywood, Florida
Memorial Hospital West
703 North Flamingo Road Pembroke Pines, Florida
Memorial Hospital Pembroke
7800 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines, Florida
Updated February 2005 — Lonely. Stressed. Depressed. New moms aren't supposed to feel that way, but sometimes they do. A mom may even feel as though the best thing she can do for her newborn is to just leave him and walk away. What can she do if she feels like abandoning him?
Thanks to Florida's Safe Harbor law, she can leave her unwanted baby, 3 days old or younger, at a hospital or fire department without fear of being detained or pursued.
"Spreading the message about the Safe Harbor law is imperative," says Mary Roberts, R.N.C., M.S.N., and Director of Maternal Services at Memorial Hospital West. "The law has been in effect for more than a year, yet the community is just learning of its existence."
Prepared to Help
Memorial Healthcare System is committed to providing a Safe Harbor for mothers and their unwanted infants. Following Florida law, Memorial Healthcare System has developed a Standard Practice Policy for the treatment of abandoned newborn infants. Newborns will be provided immediate emergency medical care as needed, and the Healthcare System will contact the appropriate licensed child-placing agencies. In cases of actual or suspected child abuse or neglect, the Healthcare System will contact the Department of Children and Family Services. The parents can remain anonymous unless the baby has suffered physical abuse.
Area fire departments are also prepared to receive newborn infants. Stations and trucks are equipped with delivery packs containing necessary newborn medical supplies, including umbilical cord clamps, baby blankets, diapers and formula. In accordance with the law, firefighters will provide emergency medical services to the newborn and arrange for immediate transportation to the nearest hospital with emergency services.
A mother who leaves her baby with either a hospital or fire department has 30 days to change her mind and try to reclaim her parental custody rights. Otherwise, custody rights terminate after an approximate 60-day process and the state begins formal adoption proceedings.
An Act of Love
The message is getting out according to Roberts. "As the result of a TV news story, we had a pregnant woman in labor come to us recently," says Roberts. "She was a single mother with a drug addiction and financial difficulties. She had seen the story on the news and used us as her Safe Harbor. Understanding that this was an incredible act of love, we attended to the mother and delivered the baby. The baby has since been adopted out to a happy and loving home."