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1st 'Safe Surrender' Baby Of 2012 Taken To Hospital In Pasadena

LOS ANGELES (CBS) —  An infant brought to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena marks the first newborn "safe surrender" of 2012, it was announced Wednesday.

The mother gave birth to the boy at home on Tuesday and told paramedics she wanted to surrender the infant, according to county Supervisor Don Knabe.

The baby -- a boy -- was placed in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the county's Department of Children and Family Services.

"The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands and to protect a baby from abandonment," Knabe said. "Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, this baby has a second chance at life and hope for a bright future."

Parents or adults with legal custody can confidentially hand over a newborn within 72 hours of birth to personnel at any fire station or hospital in Los Angeles County without fear of prosecution, as long as the baby shows no signs of abuse or neglect.

This was the 89th "safe surrender" since the county's program was begun in 2001.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

 

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