LEWISTON — The Department of Health and Human Services says a boy born May 31 at a Maine hospital has been abandoned under the state’s Safe Haven law, which took effect in 2002.

The boy is in state custody and was born at Central Maine Medical Center. He is referred to as “Safe Haven Baby Boy” in a legal notice in the Sun Journal on Friday, which also says his parents are unknown. The notice gives them time to step forward to request a hearing and legal counsel or risk losing parental rights.

In Maine, parents can leave a baby less than a month old with police, hospital staff or medical service providers without repercussion.

There have been fewer than a half-dozen cases since the law took effect.

 

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.