Medical history and original birth certificates?

Question

Adoptees,

As far as legislation what is exactly being done to challenge the roadblocks you incur when trying to acess your medical histories and original birth certificates?

If their is no law that states you can not see your original birth certificate then how is it justified to block your attempts?

Thanks in advance for answering.

***DD has asthma and allergies.....thankfully we knew that her siblings have asthma. We also knew her dad had juvenile diabetes so we needed to monitor her sugar due to the steroids.

It just occured to me that if we had not medical history this could have been life threatening.

Answer 1

I think that family medical history should be made available at the time of adoption for the adoptive couple and for the child sake

Answer 2

Currently there are a few bills being submitted in the following states:

    * Michigan HB 4896 - records access bill

    * Minnesota HF 1445 - records access bill

    * Minnesota search registry bill

    * Missouri HB 1758 - records access bill(pulled yesterday)

     * New Jersey S611(PDF) - records access bill

    * NY A2277 - records access bill

    * Ohio HB7 - records access bill but still dirty

    * S.Carolina H 3172 records access bill

    * Texas HB 525 - records access bill PULLED!

    * Utah HB 0289 HORRIBLE RECORDS ACCESS BILL

    * W.Virginia Bill 4135 - records access bill about to be pulled

There are open records groups in many states across the country which are working on restoring the rights to adoptees.

You'll notice some of the bills above us are labeled "dirty" some are getting pulled and this happens because they get amended in house by the house or senate and become dirty once they include restrictions like VETOS or CI's or REGISTRIES that violate the adoptees rights.

some of the legislatures and states BELIEVE that there is a right to privacy, they THINK its written in law and aren't aware of the truth. Until the recent study by Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Insitute there were no studies that proved that there was no "promise to privacy" there were people saying they couldn't find the laws, but for some reason the "study" has more weight on the legislatures.

There are also groups of adoptees like the American Adoption Congress who will support dirty bills like "VETOS" and "CI'S" etc. and they see that as progress towards equality, even if its not "achieving" equality. I see that as a step back because history shows that once a law is amended for adoptee rights, its chances of being amended again, aren't very positive.

There are other things like the Adoptee Rights Demonstration that adoptees and those who love us are coming to this July 22, 2008 in New Orleans at the annual state legislatures ( since they are the people who have the power to unseal our records ) and we're having a one day protest at the convention in protest of our sealed records. come on and join us!! http://www.adopteerights.net

Answer 3

I should clarify, as I think there may be some confusion.  There is no law that promises anonymity to a parent who has relinquished a child.  However, if that child becomes adopted, his/her original birth certificate seals.  In 44 states, no one has access to this record, except the adopted person WITH CONDITION.  These various conditions may be easy to meet (born within a certain time frame) or very difficult to meet (get a court order.)

The fact that the records are sealed is no proof of a promise of anonymity.  If that argument could even remotely be used, the record would have had to seal upon relinquishment.  However, it only seals if and when an adoption finalizes with the courts.

In 6 states -- Alabama, Kansas, Oregon, New Hampshire, Alaska and Maine (Maine as of 1/1/09) adult adopted citizens are able to access their birth certificates without condition, just like non-adopted citizens, including citizens who were relinquished by their "birth" parents but are not adopted.

ETA:

Okay, I read your question a little wrong, speaking of confusion!  ;-)  Even so, at least you know which states allow unfettered access now!  Gershom has given a good listing of the current legislation that is happening.

Thanks, Laurie

Answer 4

i don't know about legislation as i come from another country but what you have said about medical history is what i have always believed there is no way to let people know how an adoptee feels when asked for family medical history and they have to say that they don't know and it gets even more so when their children and grandchildren come along and they have to say that they know nothing on one side as well all medical history should be made known to adoptive parents and then passed onto the children they adopt it could save lives if they know what to look for if a medical condition crops up or could in the future