Babies being forgotten and dying in hot cars

[Mapleroo]

While every summer there are sad reports of this happening, this year I have taken it a bit more personally because I have a baby. The latest is an 11 month old girl in Utah. The consensus as to what should happen to the mother is divided. Some are calling for blood and say it was abuse/negligence and she should be charged criminally. Others are saying that it was a tragic mistake, could happen to anyone and the guilt she has to live with is punishment enough.

From what I have read about the events is that the mothers routine for that day was changed and she normally wouldn't have had the baby with her which is why she was forgotten in the car. By the sounds of things, it wasn't a case of so-called convenience (ie. leaving baby in the car while you run into the casino type of scenario)

Where do you stand on cases where the baby has been forgotten?

 

[sue_88]

I think it's a case of a very sad and tragic case whereby the child has been genuinely forgotten. And it's important that it can happen to ANYONE. And I think someone who says "this would never happen to me" is very stupid and naive.

If a child has been left intentionally, shopping, sleeping etc then yes that's neglect.

 

[Mapleroo]

I completely agree! I feel so scatterbrained, it could have easily been me. I think that the guilt she will live with has to be 100x worse than any punishment by law.

 

[Captain]

I think a lot are a tragic mistake, but only this morning I read about a mother who left her baby in a car while she was in a bar around the corner having a drink!! Totally unacceptable and nothing less than neglect in a case like that.

 

[Mapleroo]

I think a lot are a tragic mistake, but only this morning I read about a mother who left her baby in a car while she was in a bar around the corner having a drink!! Totally unacceptable and nothing less than neglect in a case like that.

Absolutely!

What was the outcome?

 

[THart]

I'm going to be the odd ball on this I'm sure. But 'tragic mistake' or not. I would like all these case prosecuted to the fullest extent.

Maybe it was a change in routine but it doesn't change the fact a child died by your fault.

Yes it could happen to me. And I would hope to face the full effect of the law because it would be the least of what I deserve.

Just my opinion though, and I understand I'm a minority with it.

 

[sue_88]

But what would you expect to be prosecuted for?

It's not murder as there was no intent to kill.
It's not manslaughter as there was no intent to harm.

Would you call it neglect even though there was no intent?

Child endangerment perhaps? But then isn't any situation a 'child endangerment risk?'

How would you feel if your baby died in the home? A fall down the stairs, a unit collapsing on top on them....all tragic mistakes, but would the mum still be guilty?

I don't agree that genuine cases of forgetting should be prosecuted, punishment enough for me is the guilt that your child died an absolutely horrible death because of your error.

 

[THart]

Like I said. I'd be the minority with my opinion, and I'm ok with that as everyone is entitled to them.

I could fall down the steps and die, I could have a stand or bookcase fall on me and die. But I can't die by being left in a car because I posses the ability to get out. Apples to oranges.

But I'm out of this, because I'm not in it for a debate. I was here to state my opinion and I have.

Take care everyone.

 

[sue_88]

That's ok, your opinion is very valid

I'm personally glad we don't currently persecute the people who've made these awful mistakes.

 

[staralfur]

Prosecuting a parent for making a tragic mistake that cost them their child's life strikes me as being totally wrong for a couple of reasons:

1) That parent is going to suffer the consequences of that mistake for the rest of their lives. I can only imagine the pain that results from knowing your child is dead because of your mental lapse. That would be soul-destroying and in my mind that is the absolute worst punishment one could face. Throwing them in jail or charging them with a crime to make their life even more miserable and difficult completely lacks empathy and compassion for another human being. Our minds are all fallible and just because most of us thankfully have not experienced such a tragic outcome doesn't mean we should treat these people like criminals.

2) It's a waste of resources. I don't want to see prisons full of parents who accidentally forgot their kid in a car and and have to spend even more tax dollars to make more room for actual criminals. Punishing these parents isn't going to discourage anyone else from forgetting their kid in the car because it's not a conscious decision in the first place.