Japanese open “Unwanted Baby Hatch”
We reported back in November of 2006 that Japan was planning to open an unwanted “baby hatch” and it appears it has finally opened for business.
The nation’s first baby hatch, where parents can anonymously drop off infants they cannot care for, was installed in Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto on Tuesday.
The hatch will begin operations next week after the municipal health center has completed its inspection.
A door measuring about 45 centimeters by 60 centimeters has been installed on the wall of a counseling room for neonatal infants. Behind the door, there is an incubator in which parents can put their baby.
The hospital has placed a letter in the incubator asking the parent to submit his or her name, as well as a notice asking for some clue to be left so the child can find its parents in the future.
Beside the door, the hospital has installed an intercom for consultation and prepared cards with the telephone numbers of a child consultation center and other relevant institutions.
By Sun Tzu on 11-05-2007
Comment by Heather
July 18th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Are you people kidding me???? An UNWANTED baby hatch???
Comment by Beverly
July 24th, 2007 at 6:25 am
Better than putting them in a dumpster.
Comment by Jo
July 24th, 2007 at 8:27 am
We could definitely use that in the U.S.A. – if it saves some kid’s life, it’s well worth it.
Comment by miss meejay
September 4th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
BEST. THING. EVER.
There are a few here in the US I’ve heard and there should certainly be more..
Countless infants are killed on a regular basis because their moms don’t know what else to do with them because they’re too young, simply not ready or whatever.. It’s a very much needed thing.
Comment by malditangpinay
November 28th, 2008 at 3:17 am
I thought they were having problems with a dwindling population???