OMAHA, Neb. – A 17-year-old boy was confirmed Wednesday as the 23rd child abandoned under the state's unique safe-haven law, as the governor prepared to address changes in the law.
State officials said the boy's stepfather and mother took him to BryanLGH Medical Center West in Lincoln late Tuesday and that the boy was in state care.
Lincoln Police Capt. Jim Thoms said the parents told officers the boy wouldn't follow their rules and that they couldn't afford some programs he needed.
Nebraska's safe-haven law is the only one in the country that lets caregivers leave children as old as 18 at a state-licensed hospital without fear of prosecution for the abandonment.
The law was intended to protect infants, but it failed to define "child" in its wording.
Gov. Dave Heineman called a news conference Wednesday and said he would address the safe-haven law. His spokeswoman would not confirm whether Heineman would be calling a special session to change the law.
A majority of state senators have agreed to revise the law so that only infants up to 3 days old could be dropped off.
Heineman had said on Sept. 18, after only two older children had been abandoned, that the laws should be changed.
Todd Landry, director of the Department of Health and Human Services, Children and Family Services Division, confirmed Wednesday that the 17-year-old boy was the 23rd left at a Nebraska hospital under the law.
Other children have been taken to hospitals for abandonment but soon went back home after parents or caregivers were given guidance or other help by police and hospital officials.
RSS
ifeelfine, perhaps you are the one who could use a biology lesson, without outside help a male homosexual couple nor a female homosexual couple can produce a child. Now if you need me to explain what that outside help would need to be, please let me know.
Song: We just provide loving homes to children that heterosexuals cannot or will not raise.
song2vs4: You're entirely too serious and obviously haven't the capacity to recognise good SATIRE when you see it.
song: no, it wouldn't be impossible at all. clearly like many folks on CP, you could use a biology lesson.
Here is an idea, let the homosexuals give birth to all the children. But wait....that's impossible. Right from the beginning, not possible. I wonder why?????????
They must be proud of how well you turned out.
chicago24
Were your parents homos?
See what happens when you start letting heterosexuals try to raise children?
Not only should they leave the safe haven law the way it is in Nebraska, every following state should follow their lead. There would be soooooooo much less abuse, neglect, sexual assualt and suicide if they did. Of course they won't because it costs money. "They" would rather have a kid abused than to actually have to provide housing for them. I know. I know.
Although I couldn't even imagine abandoning my teens (even at their worst moment), many are just inches away from striking out against their children. It is truly horrible what happens to children in this evil world.