Newborn Abandoned At Hospital
18-Year-Old Parents Won't Face Charges Under Colorado Law
Originally published at TheDenverChannel.com (Denver 7 News), November 29, 2001
AURORA, Colo.—A teen couple Thursday became the first parents to take advantage of a new Colorado law that allows newborn babies to be abandoned with hospital or fire department staff, authorities said.
The baby girl was alive and well after her parents turned her over to staff at the Medical Center of Aurora at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.
The child's parents are only 18 years old, 7NEWS reported. They told authorities that they're students, and they don't have the means to care for their baby.
Doctors and nurses at Aurora Medical Center were thankful that the parents made the decision to use Colorado's abandoned baby law.
"We're not saying that a good thing has happened. What we are saying is, in a world of poor choices for a very young couple, the best possible choice was made," said Donna Good of Denver Human Services.
Under the abandoned baby law, parents in Colorado have up to 72 hours to leave their newborn safely with a fire department or hospital staff member. The parents won't face any charges and don't have to identify themselves.
The law is meant to protect babies from being left to die in places like parking lots.
"You all know what the temperature was last night? Eighteen, 19 degrees—if they hadn't had that law and hadn't made that choice, we might not have a baby girl today, that we have," Good said.
Nurses, including Lynn Rickman, were caring for the baby, and said that while she might only be 5 pounds, 12 ounces and 18 inches long, she's healthy and strong.
"She's going to be loved by lots of people," Rickman said.
The baby will go home with a foster family, but her permanent placement could take up to a year.
That's because the young parents may change their minds and want to get her back, or other family members might come forward who don't know about the baby.
Any of them would have to prove that they are fit to be good parents.
Abandoned Baby Law Explained
A baby who is less than 72 hours old can be dropped off at a fire department or a hospital without risk of prosecution.
The parents must bring the child in uninjured, and sign a waiver giving up custody of the child.
However, they have up to a year to try to regain custody if they change their mind.
