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TUESDAY'S EDITORIAL

Strengthening Daniel’s Law is worthwhile

THE ISSUE: Expanding scope of Daniel’s Law

OUR OPINION: Giving infants more of a chance at life is needed addition to law

It’s always good news when a life is saved. It’s always sensational and makes big news when an abandoned baby is found — dead or alive.

In January, Sumter Police Chief Patty Patterson and a fellow officer found a baby boy, apparently just a few hours old, abandoned on the side steps of a Sumter church after an anonymous call to 911. The abandoned child is today doing OK and being prepared for the adoption process.

The Sumter chief wants more good to come from the case, proposing a sensible expansion of a law aimed at providing an alternative for those who would abandon an infant.

The law, enacted in 2000, became known as Daniel’s Law after a baby who survived after being buried in an Allendale County landfill soon after his birth.

The law:

n Requires a hospital or hospital outpatient facility to take possession of a baby voluntarily delivered by the infant’s parents who intend not to return for the child.

n Provides anonymity for the parent and baby.

n Allows a hospital or facility to notify the Department of Social Services that a baby has been taken into possession.

n Requires DSS to provide for the care and custody of the baby.

n Grants a parent immunity from prosecution for unlawful conduct or cruelty toward a child or any other violation for leaving the infant if the parent leaves the child with the hospital or facility personnel (provided the baby is less than 30 days old and has not sustained any physical harm or injury).

Chief Patterson says the law allowing infants to be dropped off only at hospitals or medical facilities does not provide enough options. Delivering a child to a police station or church should be equally acceptable.

“If you open it up to say that a church is a safe place or a law enforcement center is a safe place, people may be more willing to do so,” Patterson said. “Including law enforcement centers is important because we need for folks to realize that we stand behind the law.”

Patterson says giving more options might lessen the fear of someone who chooses to give up a baby.

Although churches are not open 24 hours, Smith hopes that if the bill passes, it would encourage people to go inside and leave an infant with a church staff member, rather than on a sidewalk or steps.

“It gives them options,” Smith said. “The important part of this is the protection of the infant.”

While few can imagine abandoning a baby, it happens. The law, at least, gives hope that a parent will give their newborn a chance at life without them. Daniel’s Law is not something we as a society would prefer to think is necessary. But it is.