As an adoptee how can I get my birth family's medical history?

Question

The only thing I truly hate about being adopted is not knowing my medical history. There are so many diseases that are passed down through the generations. My husband and I want to have children soon and I would like to know what diseases/disorders run in my family. I know that there are tests for certain known disorders that you can take before you get pregnant to see if you carry the gene.

Does anyone know how to gain access to medical records if you are adopted in a closed adoption? All I know is the age, height, weight and that my birth parents were both near-sighted. I would like to know more, any help would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

Wow, are we twins?  I am in the exact same situation as you are.

You can contact your state of birth's Child Welfare Deparment and request in writing your adoption record.  They'll need your date of birth and your adopted parent's names.  Some states require you to fill out further information and you might even have to pay a fee.

You can also try contacting your adoption agency and see what they are allowed to tell you.  You can write a letter to your birthmother requesting the information, leaving it on file at the agency (with the post-adoption department).  From time to time, birthmothers will check back with the agency and if she gets your letter she can leave that information with the agency.  

Althought my adoption was closed, I have a huge problem with the no-information-given status that goes along with them.  I have a right to know every element of my health care from my delivery into this world till now and especially my family medical history.  It irritates me to know that this information was most likely given to the hospital at my birth but I have no access to it because there's no way to ID "baby girl date of birth XX/XX/XXXX" as me without knowing my mother's name.

I hope you find what you are looking for.  I really do.

Answer 2

I'M ADOPTED AS WELL,BUT I CAME OVER FROM SOUTH KOREA. IF YOU WERE BORN IN THE STATES YOU MIGHT SOME MEDICAL HISTORY IF YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR BIRTH PARENTS LIVE OR CHECK THE COURTHOUSE. HOPE YOU HAVE LUCK

Answer 3

Sign up with isrr.net and join lots of adoption search groups.

Google these:

The Adoption Database

The Registry

Soaring Angels

Texas has groups specifically for that state.  Most states do.

Google those and the Search Angels there will help you.

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Answer 4

A lot depends upon which state you were born/adopted in.  You'd have to investigate that state's laws.

I have been exactly where you are now.  I wondered about medical history in the sense of genetic disorders, but also as an indication as to what kind of pregnancy I might expect.  I asked about tests for everything:  There are hundreds of tests that can be done, but each test only tests for one thing.  So, each test is designed to look for only one thing.  It is a shame that there isn't just a single test for everything.  But it doesn't work that way.

My children are my first blood relatives.  So weird for me!  Luckily, we are all healthy.  Long after they were born, I searched...and discovered that there are some important genetically transmitted disorders in my heritage.  We might be carriers, but don't present the disorders.  So, your is not a silly concern.

Answer 5

Write the adoption agency and ask if there are any medical updates in your file.  No guarantee though.  Even if the information is immediately life threatening, they often round file the letter.