The importance of having access to an adoptee's Medical History?

Question

I have always known this was a concern for adopted children, but recently I have experienced first hand how important it is for an adoptee to have full access to their medical records.

We recently found a lump the size of a dime in my 13 year old son’s breast. When I took him to his Doctor to have it looked at, I was bombarded with health questions that I could only guess at. I have some of the history on his father’s side, because his original father is a relative of my ex husband’s. (sounds like a Jerry Springer episode, I know) So, I know that cancer has struck almost every adult on his father’s side of the family. I have absolutely NO information about his Mother’s side of the family except that she has been diagnosed as a

Schizophrenic and had a severe substance abuse problem.

When a child is placed for adoption, whether through foster care or an agency or whatever, is there any way that the original mother should be required to give a very detailed family history for

Answer 1

I'm not so sure family medical history is really that important.  It's nice to have, but doesn't ensure correct diagnoses.  I am an adoptee with no medical history and because of that am treated as high risk for everything.  Sometimes I think I get BETTER treatment since I am checked out for ALL possibilities rather than what runs in the family.

Answer 2

Knowing medical history is probably one of the most important things in today's society.I never realised how important it was until I started my own family and at almost every doctor's visit I was asked about it.I COULD ONLY EVER SAY THAT I KNEW NOTHING.I honestly don't know how my adoptive parents felt when asked the same questions about me or my brother when we were little.I can only give my children the medical history on their father's side and only tell them what I have experienced as it is a complete blank before me.These days knowing your medical history can give doctors an idea of what to look for and this can save time and lives.Both my son and daughter have had some small health issues and I have been told it would have been a lot easier and less troublesome for them if they had a more complete knowledge of their family medical history.                                                                                              I HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL BELIEVE THAT A FULL MEDICAL HISTORY SHOULD BE COMPULSORY FOR ALL ADOPTIONS

Answer 3

Medical history is a real fluid thing.

The medical history of an infant with, say, a 22 year old mother and a 45 year old grandmother is going to be completely different 10, 15, 20, 30 years down the line.

While a full mandatory medical disclosure would be good at the time of surrender, it doesn't address future concerns. Think of your own mother's or grandmother's medical history at different stages of their life.

While it's extremely important, it also doesn't help the millions of existing closed records adoptees with no history whatsoever.

Answer 4

This is not required for any other mother to do. If a kid wants medical history they have to ask their mom and dad. Do I think it is important for adoptees to have? h**l yes! Do I support making the laws harder on first moms than on any other mother? h**l no! I am one of those moms that refuses to give medical history to the agency. I gave it to them before her birth only to find out it was altered to make me look bad. Certain things were added and certain things were erased. I gave the APs my phone number so they could call me if they needed to know anything. I also offered to talk directly to my daughter's doctor so my medical history would still be covered by HIPPA. I will never just hand my medical history over to strangers again on the hope that they will do what is right.  You can not force a mother to give out this information any more than my mother can be forced to give me all her info. It sucks but its the truth

Answer 5

The only thing I can think of is a data base for adoptees. I have no idea how it would work but you know how every time yo go see the doctor they are to report and unusual findings? Maybe something along those lines but linking them to their fparents. Sounds like something from a sci fi movie.

Answer 6

I think it is very important too.  I have a nephew that has never checked his file at Catholic Charities.  We wonder if the Mom(adoptive) ever told him.  Anyway, our family has had diabetes and a very severe degeneration of the spine.  3( out of 6) of us kids in our family (and my Dad) have had to have surgeries for it.  We had to have a fission in the spinal chord at the C3 and C4.  When they discovered mine, I was unable to hardly walk.  A disk was laying on my spinal chord.  At first they did not know what it was.  if diagnosed early, they may have adverted some of the neurological damage I had from it.  I still have numb hands and feet along with severe burning sensations from the nerves,  Thank goodness no diabetes yet.

There is heart diseases that run through our family too.

My sister was 16 when she gave him up.  We are in our 50's and I hope someday he finds us or at least gets the message.  (Mother's be sure to update your files as necessary)

Keep collecting stories like mine and send them to our legislatures

Answer 7

Wouldn't it be great if it was mandatory?!  I eventually searched....and my bdad told me incredible lies about the family medical history, left out incredibly relevant genetic conditions.  Cruel.  That is the only word that comes to mind.  Luckily I have excellent health....but my kids?  ...their kids?  Anonymity is more important???  No contest, in my mind.

And, I wouldn't care so much about my medical history if my doctors would stop asking me about it.  It is the DOCTORS and the MEDICAL COMMUNITY that should be lobbying for open records too!

Answer 8

I think in cases of abuse or neglect/ drug dependency, it should be requirement. All of the child's past medical records and a detailed family history should be provided. At the expense of the terminated parent.

In any other adoption, I believe that all adoptees should have access to their FAMILIES themselves and all parents should make every effort forge supportive relationships with each other in order to provide not only immediate access to family medical history, but the SUPPORT of the family as well.

But I tend to imagine an ideal world too...

In the immortal words of John Lennon - "You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one!!"

Answer 9

Wow!  I totally agree with you.  When I was trying to find out what was wrong with me, I kept going to all these different docs and was getting blown off.  Come to find out, I really do have a heart condition!!!  How frustrating for all these years!  My mother would take me to the doctor and have to fill out these forms with all these questions regarding my medical history.......  Yeah well there was usually  the word "ADOPTED" across the top of the page with a long arrow or line through everything....  Not at all helpful!  We wasted lots of time and money trying to figure out things, that's for sure.  Finally I found out the problem.  Then I meet my bio-fam and they are all like, "oh yes, that runs in the family..."  Yeah, a little too late for that!  

No disrespect, but they really need to make that mandatory!  It's ridiculous to have to be guessed at and experimented on when all anyone had to do in the first place was to give us a nice med. history.....  I pray one day it changes.

Answer 10

A couple of states are making a mandatory update of medical information if the mother refuses contact. NJ comes to mind. If the mother or father files a VETO against the adoptee they're required to update medical information every 10 years. If they fail to do so, the records are opened.

I wouldn't support a Veto bill, ever.

Answer 11

i think it should be but there should be a way to get updated info also. What was true when the child is born or adopted may not change.  Think teenage mom  with young parents. She has no healt issues or her parents. Then 10 yrs down the road  b grand ma has breast cancer, then 10 yrs after  that b mom also gets  breast cancer.  That is important info not availble at the time of  birth or adoption.  

i am in favor of electronic medical records with safe guards for hacking etc just for people in general. I hate that i need to pay one hospital to send info to another one not in their network it is my info.  in the case of adoption the info can be populated into medical history of the adoptee so there does not have to be contact if both parities don't want it.  The adoptee is protected though

Answer 12

I have come to many dead ends in my search for med. history.  The one thing I have been told by everyperson who has access to all my adoption info-but won't let ME know anything-is to write to my local government.  Get them to change laws.  I live in Indiana-anyone wanna get involved hit me up!

Answer 13

I do not know how to make it mandatory ..but can you imagine if all the adoptee's formed a group and did protests, marches etc.. Somebody would have to listen, there are SO many adoptee's.

I agree about the medical history. When I was pregnant I went through the same thing. I get violently sick for the whole 9 months, when pregnant...and end up look anorexic by the time I give birth. Once in contact with my birth mother, I was able to find she had been the same with me.

Also we have a history of Cancer on the womens side, these things need to be known, they could cost us our lives!

Answer 14

It's something that has needed changing for a very long time, for exactly those reasons. Unfortunately, the only way to change it is with the help of our polititions. Contact them, and see what they would need from you to start making motions to change this.