Abandoned Newborn Left at Hospital

Los Angeles: An abandoned baby boy was found in a cardboard box in the parking lot of a local hospital by a Los Angeles police officer this afternoon.

On Tuesday, June 13, 2006, around 1:15 p.m., Police Officer Carlos Amaya was at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, 15107 Vanowen Street in the Van Nuys area, when a nurse told him that the hospital had received a call about an abandoned baby. According to the caller, the baby had been left in a cardboard box in the hospital parking structure.

Officer Amaya and hospital staff searched the parking complex and found the cardboard box with the baby boy inside. The baby was conscious, breathing and appeared to be just hours old. He was taken into the emergency room for observation and is listed in stable condition.

The California Safely Surrendered Baby Law allows mothers to leave unwanted newborn babies at any Los Angeles County hospital emergency room, or a fire station, within 72 hours of delivery. By doing so, the mother will not face criminal charges.

More information on the Safely Surrendered Baby Law may be obtained on the Internet at www.babysafela.org.