Japanese Drop Box for Unwanted Babies?

Question

Check out this article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070510/ap_on_re_as/japan_baby_drop_box

It's about how a Japanese hospital has created a "drop box" for unwanted babies. The article states that the hospital implemented this feature as a way of decreasing the amount of abortions in that country.

What are your thoughts on this controversial issue, and do you think something like this would be good in other countries?

Please read the entire article before commenting.

Answer 1

Holy shitballs! Well, I guess it's a better alternative than dumpsters and toilets, or even killing the poor things. After all, they didn't ask to be born, it's not their fault. It is a benefit for those who get adopted cos their "birth" parents can't ever know what happened to the baby. It's a bit like disregard for human life, dropping a baby in a drop box, but it's the best temporary solution to the problem. I am not thrilled by it, but it's a good idea. There are lots of people who would love to adopt those babies. It's a shame that they are born to unwanting parents, but this way they have a much better survival rate, and the chance at an awesome life with a family who really loves and wants them.

Answer 2

This is not a new idea - "drop boxes" for unwanted babies have been around since the 12th century, and maybe before. As well as Japan, Russia, Germany, Italy, Paistan are just some of the countries they are in use today.



The USA, Mexico, UK and others do provide anonymous facilities for mothers to leave their babies. It saves lives.



It is a viable alternative in many cases of unwanted pregnancy and at the very least offers the baby safety and a chance at life that he/she may not otherwise have had.

Answer 3

It does exist in other places. Numerous states in the US allow babies to be left at places like fire stations and hospitals with no questions asked.



It's a lot better than the horrid stories of teens killing newborns. It also allows infants into the adoption pool for people who cannot have their own kids.

Answer 4

I think it's a great idea, certainly better than mothers leaving their newborns in trashcans or under park benches. In the US there are "safe places" to leave babies, churches, hospitals, firehouses, and police precincts. The firehouse I volunteer for is actually considered one of these safe places. We're a public building and are forbidden to ever lock all of our exterior doors for just this purpose. We're also a place of shelter for people seeking refuge from abusive homes and recently, when our area experienced wide-spread black-outs and there was freezing cold weather moving in, we opened up our social hall as a shelter run by the county.

Answer 5

They do that in the U.S. too. You can drop off a baby who is less than a certain number of days old at a fire station too. I think it's good, because the baby will have the chance to grow up with a family that wants them.

Answer 6

The US has "drop boxes" also. At fire stations and other named "safe houses". It's no different a system there than it is here.

Answer 7

what Hot Cocoa Puff said!



Way......... better than killing a child.

Maybe if more white ppl did that... there will be more white babies available for barren,rich white folks to adopt! :)



Just a thought! :)