Can someone infected with HIV adopt a child?

Question

My husband has HIV, he was born with it. Instead of risking the baby and I getting infected, we thought adoption was a good choice. Can we even do this? Are their regulations regaurding who can adopt and who cant?

Answer 1

I am sure there may be some private adoption you can do through an attorney.  Unfortunately any foster care agency or regular adoption agency will not allow it. For every adoption  you must go through a full physical to test for diseases, drugs, and HIV.  I guess the states feel that it putting the childs life at risk.  Plus I am guessing they probably think that your husband will die from the disease earlier than expected and would not put a child through the adoption process just to have his father pass away.

I know that people with Aids and HIV these days really know how to be careful, and with proper medication can live much longer then they did years ago.  But I think the states are not that smart to think about these things and it is easier for them just to say no.

I am sorry for your situation. You may try private adoption, or even try a donor sperm.  That way no one can tell you no. Plus you would get the chance to have a child that is biologically yours and you would get to go through the whole pregnancy experience.

Answer 2

I believe most adoption agencies have rules against accepting adoptive parents who have communicable diseases.  You might be able to find one but I highly doubt it.

Answer 3

i'm not sure if that's the case in all areas, but i do know of an HIV+ woman who adopted from foster care.  and both she and her daughter are doing well.

quite honeslty, if managed properly, HIV is similar to any other chronic illness. we just get our knickers in a bunch due to all the controversy surrounding it.

Answer 4

You will need a letter from your doctor stating that you have a "normal life expectancy" in order to adopt after being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.  Start with your doctor.  You can also call several local agencies and tell them your situation.  They should be able to provide guidance over the phone.

Answer 5

Yes, especially with children that have it or have a disabillity.

Answer 6

I think it would depend where you are.  A few years ago my wife and I spoke with a prospective adoption couple who needed some advise and direction how to work through the system.  They were a same s*x couple and one of the partners was HIV positive but things were under control at the time with the meds he was on.  

About 6 months after we met them they succeeded with their first adoption and have since adopted a second.  Last time I heard things were wonderful for them all.  I know his status was disclosed during the process so it's not as though they hid it.

Make a call to some of your local agencies as well as CPS.  You don't even need to tell them your name, just start off with saying "We were wondering how your policies handle applicants for adoption who are HIV pos?"  I'm sure you can find out from there.

Oh, and others here have said that a medical exam is part of the homestudy process.  Again, that may very well be true in some jurisdictions but not in others.  We've done two adoptions now and other then a few questions on the forms we fill out there has never been either a Doctors exam/medical certificate required or even a credit check.  

Remember, it's all good advise that you will get here, in most cases, from caring and concerned people but the bottom line is that there are small differences everywhere and only your local authorities can tell you for sure.  

Good luck and God Bless.

Answer 7

I'm sorry, I don't have the information to answer that question but I think that you would be able to, especially if you wanted to adopt from another country like Africa.

The only other option I can think of is a sperm donor and I'm sure that would be a hard decision for you and your husband.

Call a local agency or email one.  Good luck!

Answer 8

Part of the homestudy is a doctor's letter or  physical exam form for each of the potential adoptive parents.

The regulations as to who can adopt and who can't go by what kind of adoption you're looking at. I'm not sure if there would be a problem if you're looking at adopting through foster care. They didn't spell anything out to us about excluded conditions. A quick call to your local DCF office would get you the answer to that one.

I think with private adoption, the mom gets to choose, so it's all up to her?  

Then as far as international adoption goes, a lot of those countries have pretty strict rules and places like China would say no. If you were open to adopting a child that is HIV positive, there are a lot of children sitting in orphanages in Asia and Africa who are HIV+ and have lost their parents to AIDs.  If nothing else works out for you, you might see if that road will work.

Answer 9

Maybe you could foster/adopt an HIV positive child. Your husband can be an example as to how one can lead a productive life with the diease.

sadly, so many people are freaked out by HIV that the children go unadopted.

good luck

Answer 10

All adoptive parents have to pass a home study. You have to have a back ground check and all kinds of stuff. One of those things is you have to have a form filled out by your doctor and so does your husband stating you are healthy. I am so sorry I don't think they will let him.

Love,

Michelle

Answer 11

I think adopting a child who is also HIV positive would be a wonderful option, especially if you were open to adopting a slightly older child.  In addition to trying adoption services, I would also try HIV advocacy groups.

Also, there are more and more developments to be able to "wash" the sperm - HIV is not a very hardy disease once it is outside the human body.  I would also investigate this with your Husband's doctor.