Local doctors support bill awaiting Gov. Kemp’s signature that could save newborn lives

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A bill that awaits Governor Kemp’s signature has local doctors’ support because it could save some of the community’s tiniest lives.

WTOC spoke with the vice president of Memorial Health’s Children’s Hospital about what the potential impact of the bill could be.

What the bill would do

After passing unanimously in the Georgia House and Senate, the Eliza Jane Warner Act would allow mothers and families the opportunity to safely and without identifying themselves relinquish their baby into safe hands.

Michael Bossak, vice president of Memorial Health’s Children’s Hospital, said the hospital does see babies brought in under safe haven laws.

“We certainly have had babies delivered to this hospital and brought here for safe haven laws. It is not a super common thing, but we definitely see it every once in a while.”

Georgia’s safe haven laws could change under the new act. Bossak said it would increase access for families who may not be able to care for a baby at that time.

“So this allows for much greater access to allow patients and families to drop off babies that they may not be able to care for at that time, and so it gives much greater access to the community to allow for these possibilities,” Bossak said.

Baby boxes could be added

New additions to the law would add baby boxes — a way for families to surrender their babies without having to come face to face with someone.

“No matter how well that person is trained that’s accepting that baby, there is going to be a level of judgment that goes into that, and having the ability to do this anonymously and knowing that that is going to trigger a bunch of safety alarms in the background and that your baby is going to be quickly and well cared for really sort of sets that apart from other things,”Bossak said.

Bossak believes these boxes are something the Savannah community should invest in.

“I think it’s going to be something that would be beneficial to the community, and so I think it’s worthwhile for us to raise those funds throughout the community to kind of help get these places in those areas,” he added.

Safe haven window would be extended

The new bill would also extend the current safe haven window from 30 to 45 days to surrender newborns — something Bossak believes will help save more families and babies.

What happens next

The baby boxes are not government funded, so money would have to be raised locally. Bossak says it would be beneficial to have that option for families in Georgia.