Anonymous Birth / Baby Drops

Throughout Germany, there are about 130 clinics where women can give birth anonymously and some 80 baby drops where they can give up their child anonymously. The aim of the operators of these privately or publicly run facilities is to prevent the abandonment or killing of newborn babies. However, each such anonymous use of a baby drop breaks the law in a number of different ways, as this action is contrary to, in particular, family law, the law of guardianship, adoption law and the law governing civil status, while at the same time constituting a criminal act.

The German Ethics Council invites experts to report from different perspectives on their experiences with anonymous births and baby drops and to discuss the issue with the Council members.