Adoption Support Group

Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth parents. Whether you are looking to adopt, putting your child up for adoption, parenting an adopted child, or just thinking about it, this is the place to discuss.

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Opening adoption records

deleted_user
deleted_user
I saw an article on the front page of our local newspaper about opening up adoption records for adoptees who are of adult age. They outlined the pros and cons and also pointed out that there are 13 states that already have opened adoption records with few if any ill effects.

As an adoptee, I find this kind of article hopeful. I was adopted at a time when we didn't know a lot about the heredity factors of many diseases. I would personally like to know the medical history of my background. I am very hessitant to have identifying information just because I don't want to cause pain to the birth parents. I just want the medical and genetic history so that I can make more informed health decisions.

Then I got to thinking, this issue effects more than just me. I am wondering what others think about this topic and what others feel are the pros and cons. There will always be fear attached to this issue since it is an unknown quantity. I would like to know your hopes and fears.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i only found out i was adopted last year by accident and after many many unsuccessful trips backwards and forwards to the hospital with my daughter we have now found out she has a genetic illness.
i wish my adopted parents were honest with me earlier. it would have saved so much pain.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am all for open records. Iam a firstmom, I lost my daughter to adoption in 1971, found her in 2000. she has some medical stuff that she needed to know Like migraines and lots of pain. I wish we were a lot closer than what we are maybe someday we will be.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am all for opening adoption records. WE all have the right to our medical history as it stands now we would have to be almost dead before they would even consider opening if then. I guess the cons would be if you wanted contact with BF and they did not which could be heart breaking. I know as I have gone through this experience. I do know that most states if you go to the records dept. in county/state you were born before 1970 you can find you adoption information. I found mine that way.
deleted_user
deleted_user
You can also apply for non-id and get medical information that way.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I did write to the state of California, where I was adopted, looking for non-identifying information hoping that I would get some medical history. There was little to none. My BM didn't seek prenatal visits until her eighth month. That and the practice of taking medical history was not as detailed as it is today. All it told me was that my BPs were in "relatively good health". As an ICU nurse, I feel the need to have more than that, but I don't know how to go about getting it. If records were open, I would have access to so much more.
deleted_user
deleted_user
you can go to the courts and apply for identifying information. Look up the laws in Calf. and read up on how to have records opened. I think if its a medical reason they will do it. Good Luck and if I can be of any help let me know.
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