South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-16 - Minimum Standards for Licensing Hospitals and Institutional General Infirmaries
Sec2 61-16.1300 - PERINATAL SERVICES
Section 61-16.1303 - Providing a Safe Haven for Abandoned Babies

A. Accept temporary physical custody of an infant not more than sixty (60) days old who is voluntarily left by a person who does not express an intent to return for the infant and the circumstances create a reasonable belief that a person does not intend to return for the infant.

B. Be in full compliance with EMTALA rules and regulations and perform any act necessary to protect the physical health or safety of the infant.

C. Offer the person information concerning the legal effect of leaving the infant by delivering to the person the information brochure supplied by the state DSS. Ask the person to identify any parent other than the person leaving the infant. Attempt to obtain from the person information concerning the infant's background and medical history as specified in the forms provided by DSS and appropriate forms available from facility files.

D. Using the DSS form, an attempt must be made to get information concerning use of controlled substances by the infant's mother and other pertinent health information which might determine medical care required by the infant.

E. If the person does not wish to provide or is unable to provide the information to the facility, the person must be offered the DSS form with a prepaid envelope supplied to the facility by DSS.

F. No later than the close of the first business day, after the date on which the facility takes possession of the infant, the facility must notify DSS that it has taken temporary physical custody of the infant. DSS will have legal custody of the infant upon receipt of this notice and DSS will assume physical custody no later than 24 hours after receiving notice that the infant is ready for discharge.