A sad story recently hit the news: a woman in Tennessee gave birth to twin boys and suffocated them. It’s reported that the mother did not seek prenatal care during her pregnancy, and concealed the pregnancy from her family. She allegedly suffocated each baby with her hand due to fear that her parents would hear the babies’ cries and find out about the children. Her father found a baby wrapped in blankets in a laundry basket.
A death of a child is always unfortunate. What makes this story so sad and tragic is that these babies’ deaths were preventable. Tennessee, like Indiana, has a Safe Haven Law, which allows for an unwanted baby to be dropped off at a hospital or police station – no questions asked. The intent of safe haven laws is to keep babies safe, and to help new parents who feel their situation is bleak and don’t know what else to do. As the story of this Tennessee mother unfolds during the investigation, we may learn why this mother believed that her situation was so desperate; perhaps the reality of her actions and the finality of their deaths have not yet hit her. It has left an entire community, and an entire nation, reeling from the tragedy.
Perhaps, with these babies’ deaths, there will be a renewed awareness of safe haven laws, which will help to keep other babies safe when their parents do not want them or feel they cannot care for them. We are so fortunate in Indiana to have a rather liberal law in place to help prevent the tragic consequences – an infant’s death and his parent’s criminal prosecution – when a situation of an unwanted child exists. Whereas many nearby states mandate that the baby must be given up within 3 days of birth, Indiana permits babies less than 45 days old to be given up – with no questions asked. The Indiana Safe Haven Law (Law) enables a person to give up an unwanted infant anonymously without fear of arrest or prosecution. The Law states that a parent, family member, friend, minister or priest, social worker or any responsible adult may give up custody of a baby less than 45 days old to a hospital emergency room, fire station or police station in Indiana.
No information is required when the baby is left, as long as there are no signs of intentional abuse. Title 31 of the Indiana Code states that… (c) Any person who in good faith voluntarily leaves a child with an emergency medical services provider is not obligated to disclose the parent’s name or their name. The Law goes on to say that vital information, such as date of birth, parent medical history and anything that would be useful for a caregiver to know is appreciated. After examination, the baby is placed in custody of Child Protective Services, and then placed with a caregiver.
The Safe Haven Hotline, 877/796-HOPE (4673), can provide information to parents, and help connect them to nearby medical treatment, social services, hospital emergency rooms, fire stations or police stations. In addition, by dialing 2-1-1 on the telephone, you can easily and quickly access information about community resources.
Just know that the safe haven law exists in Indiana. If you become aware of a distressed parent of a newborn, let her or him know that this law exists. There are agencies and people who want to help keep the baby safe, and who want to help scared and overwhelmed new parents get the support they need so they can move on to lead a healthy and productive life. Check out the baby safe haven law in the DCS / Safe & General Information section at www.in.gov.
