As you’ve read, hospitals are unique among approved locations. Because of their nature, they often have information about the baby and birth parents. As such, hospitals have an extra set of protocols to follow.
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- The hospital must provide the infant and the parent/agent with a numbered identification bracelet to link the parent/agent to the infant.
- The bracelet does not entitle the holder to take custody of the infant on demand.
- The bracelet does not indicate maternity or paternity.
- The bracelet creates a presumption that the individual has “standing” to participate in court hearings concerning the infant, if desired.
- Notify the local Human Service Zone that an infant has been abandoned at the location.
- The infant’s birth and medical record must be provided to the Human Service Zone in order to establish evidence that the infant is in unharmed condition.
- The information is also used to obtain a birth certificate for the infant, which is necessary for enrollment in Medicaid, foster care programs, etc.
- If the hospital has already registered the birth with Vital Records, this also prevents dual birth registrations.
- When a birth registration has already taken place, a court order is obtained by CPS for a new birth certificate to be issued without the parent’s name.
Once these steps are met, hospitals should follow all other approved location protocols, mentioned previously, when possible.
If the parent leaves the infant at the hospital without indicating their intention of abandonment, has not returned as expected and the infant no longer requires hospital care, the hospital may contact the Child Protection Services to take protective custody. If the parent does not return to arrange for the infant’s discharge within ten days, the infant is considered abandoned under the Baby Safe Haven Law without regard to a parent’s or agent’s verbal statement of intention (N.D.A.C. 75-03-19.2-04).
A report of suspected child abuse/neglect must be made to the local Child Protection Services. This is reported because Child Protection Services must establish that the infant is unharmed (required by N.D.C.C. 50-25.1-15(6)).
State law requires that necessary medical records be provided to Child Protection Services (N.D.C.C. 50-25.1-05(5)).
