Leaving a newborn infant at a hospital without intent to return is considered what?

The scenario of leaving a newborn infant at a hospital without the intent to return is classified as child abandonment. This action reflects a clear decision to sever parental responsibilities and emotional connections, resulting in the child being left without appropriate care or guardianship.

Child abandonment is a serious legal and social issue that signifies a lack of concern for the child's welfare. The act of leaving a child in a situation where they cannot meet their own needs, especially when it involves a vulnerable population such as newborns, underscores the gravity of this action. The law typically considers such caregiving a violation of child protection statutes.

Terms like neglect or pediatric care do not capture the absence of intent to maintain care for the child, which is central to the definition of abandonment. The concept of emergency procedure also does not apply since the action taken does not involve a medical emergency but rather a decision to leave the child with no further responsibility. Therefore, the best classification of this act is child abandonment.