TOKYO - A Japanese hospital opened the country's only anonymous drop box for unwanted infants Thursday despite government admonitions against abandoning babies.
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The baby drop-off, called "Crane's Cradle," was opened by the Catholic-run Jikei Hospital in the southern city of Kumamoto as a way to discourage abortions and the abandonment of infants in unsafe public places. The hospital described it as a parent's last resort.

A small hatch on the side of the hospital allows people to drop off babies in an incubator 24 hours a day, while an alarm will notify hospital staff of the new arrival. The infants will initially be cared for by the hospital and then put up for adoption.

"We started the service but hope it won't be used," head nurse Yukiko Tajiri said. "I hope it is seen as a symbol that we are always here for parents to share their difficulty."

But government officials warned the service might only encourage more abandonments.

"In principle, parents should not abandon their babies anonymously," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters Thursday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki meanwhile said it was "fundamental for parents to raise their children with their own hands."

Similar baby drops exist in Germany and South Africa. Some U.S. states, such as Alabama and Minnesota, also have programs protecting identities of women who give up their babies.

The drop box was set up after a series of high-profile cases in which newborn babies were abandoned in parks and supermarkets, triggering a public outcry.

Abortion is readily available and widespread in Japan where restriction against the measure is loose and there are no clear religious taboos.

Nearly 290,000 abortions were reported in 2005, according to the Health Ministry.

]' date='May. 11, 2007. 09:11 PM' post='341901']
For some reason I find this hilarious. But then, I'm not in a serious right now. I'll probably be horrified when I become sane again.

   Ayme (L) Look         I'm every cliche, I simply do it best.             says:
"I wonder what this lever does. *pull* OH SHIT IT STOLE MY BABY!"

I have another:

   Ayme (L) Look         I'm every cliche, I simply do it best.             says:
"I need to tie my shoes, I'll just put my baby here for a second. .....FUCK, WHERE'D IT GO?!?!?!?!"
Megan. Retard. Megtard. TA DA? Fighting them at their own game. says:
then the alarm would go off
   Ayme (L) Look         I'm every cliche, I simply do it best.             says:
"PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE BABY. YOU ARE AN UNFIT MOTHER."
   Ayme (L) Look         I'm every cliche, I simply do it best.             says:
"I ONLY WANTED TO TIE MY SHOES!"

I actually this that it is a good idea, if it help to prevent leaving unwanted babies in dangerous places until someone finds them, so it's a good thing to leave them in the hospital, cuz that way they can ensure that they would take care of them

California has a similar law. You can drop your baby off at any fire station or hospital no questions asked. I think it's good, it prevents mothers of going to the extremes of raising a baby in bad conditions or even killing them. The babies have a better chance at life this way, in most cases they get adopted by people who want them and are able to raise a child.

isn't this encouraging them to have babies but if they don't want it its ok because theres a drop box!! but at least they wouldn't kill the babies
But my country is planning the exact same thing.

Most people don't want to get pregnant/go through the pregnancy/give birth with intentions of dropping their baby off when it's all over.

at first i seriously thought this was about just dropping off babies in a box and letting them die or something.

That's good, but shouldn't governments focus on birth control so there's less unwanted babies?

ACTUALLY, the government only allows one baby per couple. But the first born son in China is the one who traditionally cares for the parents when they get old, so all these parents are killing/abandoning baby girls.

me 2

Like people pissin' or crapin' in there? Cause thats just dirty.

I actually this that it is a good idea, if it help to prevent leaving unwanted babies in dangerous places until someone finds them, so it's a good thing to leave them in the hospital, cuz that way they can ensure that they would take care of them

yea but they shouldnt have kids if they cant handle them