Japan's First 'Baby-Hatch' Debuts to a Mixed Crowd

If you remember in older movies, some of them started off with a weeping mother carefully placing her newborn child at the doorstep of an orphanage or at the steps of some strangers house. As touching this may be, we all never took second thought that idea of actually dropping off your child in such a manner. Sure, there are some instances when several people have given away their child in such a way, but for the most part this idea of dropping off your child forever seems ridiculous.

Well, this notion of sending away your problems is not just a thought for people who are living in Kumamoto, which is a city that is around 560 miles southwest of Tokyo. It is here that the residents of this city have an option that has rarely ever been offered to people. At the Roman Catholic hospital in this city, parents have an option to actually drop off their unwanted babies through a "baby hatch." Basically, parents can deposit their children within this hatch, and walk away, leaving them anonymous in the situation.

However, some citizens aren't thrilled about this new form of abandonment. The main opposition for the "Baby Hatch" comes from the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Throughout his speech's he is urging Japan to return to "family values," even though he strongly wants to see this option for parents disappear, he has found no legal grounds that could put this to an end. Abe has been quoted saying, "A mother must not leave her child or abandon him or her anonymously." The Prime Minister seems to be very passionate about this subject matter, perhaps because the subject has a more sentimental value to him than to most. Abe, and his wife Akie, have been attempting to have children, but have been unsuccessful in their attempts.

Several government officials have spoken out against the baby hatch, saying that abandoning a baby should not be tolerated, even if it is at a hospital. However, since the hospital went public with their plans to develop the baby hatch, they have received around 40 inquiries concerning this.

Although, there is much resistance from government officials with this project, there are some people who are excited and believe that this is a great plan for the country of Japan. This is because, since abortion is widely accepted in Japan, being able to anonymously drop-off an infant, may encourage people to keep their child, but then give it away to the hospital. This could significantly raise the lowering birth rates throughout Japan. Also, it will allow more opportunities for people who want to have children, but can't, have the chance to raise a child.

So what does this hatch look like? The door is 20 inches by 24 inches, and has a message on the door that reads, "Please leave something with the baby." Then, when a person opens the hatch an alarm is sent to a hospital nurse and an intercom comes on, which encourages parents to contact the hospital staff.

Even though this sounds like a good idea for people who are not wanting to have children, but don't want to go through the process of having an abortion, there is still political disagreement. The Mayor of Kumamoto, Mayer Seishi Kouyama, was quoted by Jiji Press, "When I saw the simulation, in which a baby doll was placed into the hatch, I again felt determined that we must build a society in which this hatch will never be needed."

SOURCES:

Jiji Press

BreitBart.com