The way it should be.
Feb 27th, 2007 by B.
I read this article today and thought “wow, some places really get it right”. I wonder how many babies would be saved… saved from abandonment in trash cans and on doorsteps… saved from lives of abuse and degradation… saved from death even if every country adopted this practice?
In america if you abandon a baby, no matter how carefully you do it or how well intentioned you might be, it’s still illegal. It makes an already bad situation so much worse, and I imagine the frustration of the mother often gets taken out on the child. And damn… there are so many people out there who want to adopt, there’s just no reason why a mother who doesn’t want a child shouldn’t have a guilt-free, discreet and easy (no questions asked) way to do it.
So… Rome, Germany. Switzerland & the Czech Republic (among others) kudos to you.
On this day..
- Scaling back. - 2008
- Sign of the times. - 2008
Right. I also like the german name: Babyklappe
Some states including Mouseland, have created laws that allow a baby to be anonymously left at hospitals, fire station, and police stations without fear of reprecussions. Not as progressive as the countries you mention, but improvement.
This is awesome–a way to do something without stigmatising the woman involved — If only it were more common.
Ha! Babyklappe … I love it
Yeah, the Babyklappe has been around for some time in Germany I do think it’s a good idea in principal, but it hasn’t really been show to reduce infant mortality since many women couldn’t care less if their newborn lives or dies and aren’t concerned wit the legalities of abandonment. I believe there are something like 50 babies abandoned each year in Germany and only about half of those are found in time. The mothers that DO care will wrap up their babies and put them in a public place to be found anyway. There have also been incidents of women using the Babyklappe not just for newborns but also for much older (a two-year-old in one case!) and sometimes handicapped babies because they decided they just didn’t want them any more. I don’t know if that was really the original idea. There’s also the option of anonymous birth here in a hospital where a mother can go in, not give any details at all about herself, have her baby and give it up for adoption.
Looks like some of the laws have changed in the US - 46 states have some version of the babyklappe (but they are relatively new). There is lots of info at the following site
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/safehaven.cfm
and I found this, too -
“Anyone in the U.S. who wants to get in touch with a safe haven can call 1-877-796-HOPE (1-877-796-4673). This is a toll free call that can be accessed anywhere in the U.S. No record of the call will appear on your telephone bill. ”
Christina’s last point would repair a weakness that some see in US laws that “encourage” women seeking to conceal a pregnancy give birth alone.
Babyklappen are not _the_ solution, but they are definitely a step in the right direction and way of removing unnecessary stigma thereby helping birthmoms make a decision that is better for both them and their children.
Do they take teenagers ?