"Baby Doe" was a vocal response to the early 1980 incidents involving the deaths of handicapped newborns that resulted from the withholding of medical treatment. The lyrics go beyond specific criticism to the individuals directly involved in those cases to condemning societal indifference and callousness in general, having lyrics about how "lawyers are bought" and the "presses have run".
"Baby Doe" addressed early 1980 cases involving the deaths of handicapped newborns due to withheld medical treatment. The lyrics criticized not just individuals but also broader societal attitudes, touching on issues such as "lawyers are bought" and "presses have run."