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As you may know, I am a great believer in unintended consequences mostly as it relates to our long term thinking politicians.

Sometimes the consequences are comical, but others rather sad, take the recent example of a Nebraska law intended to allow mothers to abandon infants at a hospital or police station without legal prosecution. The intent, to protect these infants was good, but the consequences, well.

Wrangling in the legislature over to cap eligibility to a few hours or months after birth resulted in changing the language from “infant to “child with no age limit. Apparently the legislators forgot that Nebraska law defines anyone under 19 as a “child.

What were the unintended consequences? Well, no newborns have been left at the doorstep so to speak, but last week a 17 year old was abandoned and all the children left so far have been between age one and age seventeen, several from out of state.

Never fear, the infinite wisdom of the politicians will prevail. They are going to amend the law to limit it to babies up to three days old. Let’s hope the mother doesn’t have to stay in the hospital or can’t make up her mind for three days or she could miss the deadline. Call me crazy, but wouldn’t it make more sense to have a revised age limit?

I'm more in agreement with any age.

This country has a fair share of babie's being left on hospital steps etc. The police and social workers do not prosecute here. They understand that very often a young new mother may have all sorts of reasons for dumping her baby and often in haste for fear of family dissapproval etc. Very often, it is done in terrible haste and the mother suffers with guilt for the rest of her life. Hormones are running riot in a new mum and it's often the case that she is not in her right mind when she abandons the baby. In a space of a few days, she can feel entirely different and desperately want her baby back. The fear of prosecution can stop her from coming forward.

Also there is the welfare of the mother at stake. If she is very young, she may not be educated enough to know that the placenta needs to be fully birthed otherwise she could suffer blood poisoning or she may need stitches etc.

I agree with any age because if some-one dumps a 17 yr old, we have no idea if the 17 yr old has been neglected or a case of abuse.

Is it not far better for a child of any age to be handed to the authoritie's with the hope they can be fostered out or even adopted? They could end up with people who would lovingly care for them if they have been so unwanted in the first palce, to be dumped by an un-caring parent.

Take the older child... prosecute the parent.. and make them pay welfare until they are 18 yrs old.

oscar;1034308 wrote: I'm more in agreement with any age.

This country has a fair share of babie's being left on hospital steps etc. The police and social workers do not prosecute here. They understand that very often a young new mother may have all sorts of reasons for dumping her baby and often in haste for fear of family dissapproval etc. Very often, it is done in terrible haste and the mother suffers with guilt for the rest of her life. Hormones are running riot in a new mum and it's often the case that she is not in her right mind when she abandons the baby. In a space of a few days, she can feel entirely different and desperately want her baby back. The fear of prosecution can stop her from coming forward.

Also there is the welfare of the mother at stake. If she is very young, she may not be educated enough to know that the placenta needs to be fully birthed otherwise she could suffer blood poisoning or she may need stitches etc.

I agree with any age because if some-one dumps a 17 yr old, we have no idea if the 17 yr old has been neglected or a case of abuse.

Is it not far better for a child of any age to be handed to the authoritie's with the hope they can be fostered out or even adopted? They could end up with people who would lovingly care for them if they have been so unwanted in the first palce, to be dumped by an un-caring parent.

Take the older child... prosecute the parent.. and make them pay welfare until they are 18 yrs old.


Also the parent may have severe financial problems or drug problems....and they may realize they can't possibly care for the child. Those things do happen. If I knew that I could not feed my child, I would give them up so they could eat. This must be a terrible trauma for the child though. OMG. Just terrible.