Ooops

[patgund]

Neb. 'safe-haven' law allows abandonment of teens

"Nebraska's new "safe-haven" law allowing parents to abandon unwanted children at hospitals with no questions asked is unique in a significant way: It goes beyond babies and potentially permits the abandonment of anyone under 19.

While lawmakers may not have intended it, the month-old law raises the possibility that frustrated parents could drop off misbehaving teens or even severely disabled older children with impunity.

"Whether the kid is disabled or unruly or just being a hormonal teenager, the state is saying: 'Hey, we have a really easy option for you,'" said Adam Pertman, executive director of a New York adoption institute and a frequent critic of safe-haven laws.

Nebraska's approach is surprising because it is the last state in the nation to adopt a safe-haven law.

But instead of following the lead of other states, which focus on the abandonment of newborns, lawmakers here wanted to extend the protection to all minors. And in Nebraska, that goes all the way up to age 19."

Comments

[pandorasbox.livejournal.com]

Hi I would like to drop off my 18 year old daughter please?

[thats-ms-dragon.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think it is a great idea to make it totally legal to drop off your child at a hospital for any reason at any time, no questions asked. I think it is a wonderful alternative to abuse. Working with a lot of kids that have been abused, I believe that even more. I sure wish the parents would drop them off without penalty rather than locking the kids in the closet or doing something else abusive to them. Any age, any reason, any time. Just drop them off and keep them safe.

Just my humble opinion. :)

[dreamingcrow.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm a huge fan of safe haven laws simply for that protection and you know, the ability to take your older child somewhere that they can be safe will help the parents who are aware on some level that they can't handle their child. I think it's far less likely to be abused by people angry at their kid for being a child and more likely to be used by people who shouldn't have had one in the first place.

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that my parents would have been tempted when I transformed overnight from a cheerful, singing child to a glowering pubescent. I think they are still tempted for that matter...

[ophy.livejournal.com]

Just today I got a call from a mother who wanted to know "who can I give my kids to? I don't want these two anymore. Just the baby." (who was, BTW screaming in the background.)

When questioned if the children were disabled, she got defensive "Who's asking?" and when pressed said the ages of her kids were "one's around 11 and the other is 5 or 6."

We gave her referrals to Child Haven and CPS, but man.... Needless to say, we flagged the file in case we hear any more from her and need to call CPS ourselves.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Whoa.