By TIMBERLY ROSS, Associated Press Writer
OMAHA, Neb. – Ten children ranging in age from 1 to 17 were left at hospitals Wednesday under Nebraska's unique safe haven law, which allows caregivers to abandon not only infants but also teenagers without fear of prosecution.
Nine of the children came from one family. The six boys and three girls were left by their father, who was not identified, at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room. An unrelated 11-year-old boy also was surrendered Wednesday.
The law, which went into effect in July, was initially intended to protect infants, but was amended to include the word "child," which some have interpreted under Nebraska law to mean anyone under the age of 19.
At least 14 children have been abandoned since the state's new safe haven law took effect.
The children are OK, said Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Kathie Osterman said. She didn't know why their father had left them.
More information will be available at a late morning news conference, Osterman said.
Nebraska was the last state in the nation to adopt a safe-haven law. Under previous law, a parent who abandoned a baby could have been charged with child neglect or abandonment, both misdemeanors, or child abuse, a felony.
State Sen. Arnie Stuthman said he introduced the bill intending to protect infants. In a compromise with senators worried about arbitrary age limits, the measure was expanded.
Abandoning teenagers was not the original intent of the law, Stuthman said Thursday.
"People are leaving them off just because they can't control them," he said. "They're probably in no real danger, so it's an easy way out for the caretaker."
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On the Net:
Nebraska Legislature: http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/web/public/home
Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.state.ne.us
Now, I know teens are hard to put up with, but this is ridiculous at best! They better fix that law and quick!
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