In Kentucky, the Safe Infant Act has resulted in the adoption of nine babies over the last several years that may have otherwise been abandoned by their birth mothers. The Safe Infant Act allows parents to safely surrender babies who are up to 72 hours old. They can be taken to any hospital, EMS personnel, firefighter or police officer.

"The primary goal of the law is to keep babies from being abandoned with no one even knowing about it... Women who have hidden a pregnancy may be frightened, but they can ensure their baby will be safe and they can protect themselves with this law."

A parent who willingly surrenders a baby is given medical disclosure forms that will help determine the future needs of the child. After 30 days, parental rights are terminated, and the babies can then be adopted.

Read more at EMaxHealth.com.

Labels: abandonment, parental_rights, unwanted_pregancy