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What Happens to Abandoned Children? |
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By Rokai Kolam
 Every state in the US now has laws that make it possible for someone to abandon their children in a public service location, such as a hospital or police station. In most cases, these laws require that the baby be one week old or less (though most of us are aware of the now infamous case of the Nebraska law which temporarily allowed parents to abandon children up to age 18). The intention is, of course, to save the lives of babies who might otherwise be left to die. Weve all heard the stories of tiny corpses being found in dumpsters; these laws are an attempt to provide parents with another choice.
Who are the parents?
The majority of infant abandonment comes in two forms.
One is a young teenage girl, who has perhaps hidden her pregnancy from all around her. Perhaps she has refused to acknowledge it even to herself and is taken by surprise when she gives birth, alone and with no medical or emotional support. Perhaps she has a boyfriend, and if |
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