BabySafeHaven
03-15-2004, 04:37 AM
ALABAMA
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1079345765117480.xml
Newborn dropped off at UAB; bloody blanket later found
03/15/04
CAROL ROBINSON
News staff writer
A man dropped off a newborn baby girl at a Birmingham hospital early Saturday,
hours before police removed a bloody blanket with possible birth remains from a
trash bin in southwest Birmingham.
It was unclear Sunday whether the two incidents were related.
A man went to University Hospital's emergency room between midnight and 2 a.m.
Saturday and asked if he could drop off the baby without any repercussion, said
spokeswoman Tracy Bischoff.
The Secret Safe Place program, which became law in Alabama in 2000, allows
parents to leave unwanted infants in any hospital with an emergency department.
Parents face no criminal charges if the baby is abandoned within 72 hours of
birth.
Bischoff said under the guidelines of the law, hospital officials took the baby
from the man.
"We really don't ask any more questions after that," she said.
The baby, which appeared to be only hours old, was admitted to the hospital and
thoroughly examined.
"She's healthy and in good condition," Bischoff said.
Hospital workers named the baby from a list of prepared names for such
occasions, but Bischoff declined to release the given name. She said the baby
will be placed in the custody of the Department of Human Resources.
Bischoff said this was the first time someone has actually handed over a baby
to University Hospital workers under the Secret Safe Place program. There have
been several incidents at other area hospitals.
"This was just what the program was designed for," she said.
Later on Saturday, police were called to a trash bin just off Lomb Avenue after
a passer-by found a blanket with blood on it. Investigators were looking into
the possibility that a premature fetus was in the blanket, but Deputy Coroner
Paul Price said Sunday the matter appeared to be tissue, but not a fetus.
Birmingham homicide Sgt. Scott Praytor said police are continuing their
investigation.
"Our main concern was we were trying to make sure the (mother) was OK and
didn't bleed to death somewhere," Praytor said.
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1079345765117480.xml
Newborn dropped off at UAB; bloody blanket later found
03/15/04
CAROL ROBINSON
News staff writer
A man dropped off a newborn baby girl at a Birmingham hospital early Saturday,
hours before police removed a bloody blanket with possible birth remains from a
trash bin in southwest Birmingham.
It was unclear Sunday whether the two incidents were related.
A man went to University Hospital's emergency room between midnight and 2 a.m.
Saturday and asked if he could drop off the baby without any repercussion, said
spokeswoman Tracy Bischoff.
The Secret Safe Place program, which became law in Alabama in 2000, allows
parents to leave unwanted infants in any hospital with an emergency department.
Parents face no criminal charges if the baby is abandoned within 72 hours of
birth.
Bischoff said under the guidelines of the law, hospital officials took the baby
from the man.
"We really don't ask any more questions after that," she said.
The baby, which appeared to be only hours old, was admitted to the hospital and
thoroughly examined.
"She's healthy and in good condition," Bischoff said.
Hospital workers named the baby from a list of prepared names for such
occasions, but Bischoff declined to release the given name. She said the baby
will be placed in the custody of the Department of Human Resources.
Bischoff said this was the first time someone has actually handed over a baby
to University Hospital workers under the Secret Safe Place program. There have
been several incidents at other area hospitals.
"This was just what the program was designed for," she said.
Later on Saturday, police were called to a trash bin just off Lomb Avenue after
a passer-by found a blanket with blood on it. Investigators were looking into
the possibility that a premature fetus was in the blanket, but Deputy Coroner
Paul Price said Sunday the matter appeared to be tissue, but not a fetus.
Birmingham homicide Sgt. Scott Praytor said police are continuing their
investigation.
"Our main concern was we were trying to make sure the (mother) was OK and
didn't bleed to death somewhere," Praytor said.
