Editorial

Legislature's ducks are out of line

Monday, September 22, 2008

A loophole in Nebraska's "safe haven" law has seen three older children dropped off at hospitals in about a week.

It was designed to save the lives of newborns that otherwise might be abandoned in alleys or restrooms. The way it is written, however, adults can apparently drop off children up to age 19 at hospitals without being charged with anything.

A 13-year-old girl, 15-year-old boy and 11-year-old boy have been left at hospitals so far.

We can sympathize with parents or guardians at their wits' ends dealing with unruly teenagers, but other resource are available in those situations. The burden shouldn't be placed on hospitals or other health care providers.

Nebraska's law was the last enacted in the United States, right after Alaska. It looks like the delay should have given the Legislature time to get its legal ducks in a row.

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