Angel's Cradle in Vancouver gets 1st abandoned baby

Someone abandoned a two-day-old baby at Angel's Cradle at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouverthis summer the first time the newborn drop-off facility has been accessed, the hospital said Tuesday.

The downtown hospital's program, launched in May,encourages parents to safely abandon unwanted children in a bassinet in a private alcove near the hospital's emergency entrance.

Afteran alarm alertshospital staffto the presence of the child, doctors will assess the baby's health and provide any necessary medical treatment, then put the child in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

The two-day-old was leftin thehospital's special bassinet in July,according to Dr. Geoffrey Cundiff, who founded the program.

Cundiff said important details such as the date of birth, ethnicity andfamily history were left with the child.

"That was really helpful. I think they were really trying to do what was right for the baby," said Cundiff, who believes thebaby hasan immigrant mother.

The baby is in good health andnow in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, he said.

Anonymous drop-offs developed in Europe

Under the program, anyone wanting to leave a newborn canaccess the bassinet anonymously by small doors bothoutside and inside the emergency room entrance. Another door inside the hospital allows staff to access the baby when an alarm sounds shortly after theparent or caregiverhas left.

The program has faced criticism from some who say it encourages mothers to avoid official adoption procedures, but Cundiff disagrees.

"I don't think we are trying to encourage it. I think we are really trying to provide an option that will prevent tragedy for the baby and the people who are really opposed to it. I think they are really frustrated with the idea of a mother giving up her child, but many times, that's really what be best for the baby, if they really don't have an environment where they can care for the baby.

Cundiff spearheaded Angel's Cradle after a number of babies were found abandoned around Vancouver. It is based on similar facilities in Europe thatare sometimes called baby hatches, whichdraw on their own origins from historic facilities run by churches such as foundling wheels.

The St. Paul's cradle is the only one of its kind in Canada, but Cundiff says he hashad inquiries from across the country, and some Catholic hospitals in Alberta are considering implementing their own safe-haven program.