Baby Girl Left at Torrance Hospital

A newborn girl was "safely surrendered" at a Torrance hospital, marking the second time this month that an infant has been left at a medical facility under a county program that allows someone to turn over a newborn no more than three days old, provided the child shows no signs of abuse.

It was not immediately clear which hospital the baby was surrendered at.

The office of Fourth District county Supervisor Don Knabe reported that the infant was surrendered on Wednesday. Another newborn girl was surrendered earlier this month at a hospital in Culver City, according to Knabe's office.

In such cases, the baby is taken into protective custody and placed with families approved for adoption with the Department of Children and Family Services.

Knabe initiated the county's Safe Surrender program, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2001.

"Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, these baby girls have a second chance at life," he said. "What could have been a tragic situation is instead a decision that allows these girls the chance to be part of a loving family. As word continues to spread about the program, others in similar situations can make the right choice for their babies and themselves, because of Safe Surrender."

Since the program's launch, 115 babies have been safely surrendered, according to Knabe's office.

—City News Service.