(Salt Lake City, UT) – An
investigation in Georgia is revealing grim details of a 21-year-old woman who
gave birth alone in her family home. It is suspected that the woman then stabbed
her newborn to death. She is now in a
hospital recovering from blood loss due to the delivery and is under arrest for
suspicion of murder.
“This horrific incident did
not have to happen. There are
alternatives and women need to be informed about safer options here in Utah,”
says Utah Rep. Patrice
Arent.
One alternative is adoption;
another is the Utah Newborn Safe Haven law, sponsored by Rep. Arent more than 10
years ago.
November is National Adoption
Month. Planning ahead to give a newborn to an adoptive family is the best
alternative for a woman who isn’t ready to take care of a child. When adoption
is not arranged prior to the birth of the newborn, Utah’s Newborn Safe Haven law
allows anyone to turn over a newborn to any staff member at a 24-hour hospital ―
no questions asked.
“The law protects newborns
from injury or death by providing a safe place, but also protects the identity
of the person giving up the newborn,” said Nan Streeter, R.N., Director,
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Utah Department of Health. “This identity protection may save lives. It
is important for the public to be aware of this option so that tragic events
like these don’t happen in Utah.”
Women who harm or abandon
their infants come from all walks of life; however, research shows most are young, healthy,
unmarried, of various races and incomes, and are probably not addicted to drugs or
alcohol. These women have been silent about their pregnancies while living with
a relative or friend, and have had no prenatal care.
They feel isolated and are in denial.
A toll-free 24-hour information hotline is
available at 1-866-458-0058. Women in a crisis pregnancy can also visit the Safe
Haven website at www.utahsafehaven.org.
The site includes more information on Utah’s law, frequently asked
questions, and contact information for Utah hospitals that take newborns.
Adoption centers can be found
at http://www.myadoptionagencies.com.
Media Contacts:
Julia Robertson
UDOH Pregnancy Risk
Line
801-538-9161
Rep. Patrice Arent
Utah Newborn Safe Haven
Advisory Cmte.
(801) 930-0836
