title: Abandoned infants can be brought to ED.
abstract: To reduce the number of abandoned newborns, a state law was passed in Texas that allows mothers to abandon infants anonymously in the ED and avoid criminal prosecution. Similar legislation has been introduced in Delaware, Alabama, California, Minnesota, and Georgia. Although the law aims to ensure children aren't abandoned in unsafe places, ED experts question whether it will be effective. Once it is determined a child is abandoned, the burden is on the ED staff to perform a medical evaluation with no background information. ED staff should educate pregnant women and young mothers about community resources in times of domestic crisis.
mesh_terms: D002670:Child, Abandoned / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D016134:Organizational Policy; D013781:Texas