Why would my physician refuse to notarize my physical for adoption?

Question

My wife and I are going insane over this! We had our physicals as required for the adoption we're pursuing, and our physician met with us twice to tell us that everything looks good. But now she refuses to complete the form by having it notarized (i.e., she won't sign it in front of a notary).

Any thoughts on a possible explanation? She now won't return our calls and refuses to take ours. We even offered to bring a notary to her office, but she refuses to complete the process.

I'd also love any suggestions about what to *do* in response.

P.S. "Dr. Evol" is a PhD, not an MD.

Answer 1

She's 'speaking' loudly.  I can 'hear' her, why can't you?

Answer 2

Well, if the doctor isn't a medical doctor than I can't see how he can conduct a legal physical examination.  A PhD is not a medical doctor.  

Get another physical from an MD.

ETA: Oh, sorry!  I thought you meant you were seeing a PhD for a medical exam, which is why I was confused.  I have no idea why the doctor wouldn't notorize the exam.  We had no problem with it, in fact there was a notary in our doctor's office.

Answer 3

wow ii seriously dont know that's really crazy dude!1

Answer 4

I am curious.....why does it need to be notarized?

Answer 5

I will not speculate when your dr. refuses to have a notary sign this. However, I need to make a comment to those who think that she has a problem with adoption- if this was the real issue why did she agree to do the physical in the first place- I am kind of thinking she refuses to sign because she does not want to be liable if some health issue comes up later that she may have missed. I would ask her why?  And then find another doc and upfront tell them they must sign in front of a notary. I am not sure why you have to do this, it must be a new law- because when my hubby and I adopted- our doc did not have to sign our physicals in front of a notary.  This the drs. problem, however I know it is slowing up the process- and for those who are trying to tell you adoption is a problem don't listen- hang in there-

Answer 6

Perhaps the doctor has an issue about Adoption or some kind of concern about your overall health?

It could be a good idea to get a different doctor... Ask for your records to be sent from the old doctor to the new one and then let that doctor know what has happened.....

Otherwise I don't know---it isn't as if there is a way to force her to comply so it might just be easier to go someplace else....

Answer 7

I agree with Still Me.  It very well could be a liability issue.  In these times, a person needs to be absolutely positive of what he or she is signing.  Perhaps your doctor has consulted an attorney on the matter, and must wait for a response?  Or perhaps the attorney instructed the doctor outright not to have the papers notarized?  

Other than that, I see no reason why a doctor would refuse to have the papers notarized.  As other people have suggested, try to go to a different doctor.  I really do hope that the adoption process is completed and that you will soon be happy parents.

Answer 8

That is truly bizarre. Maybe get your records sent to another doctor to do it for you.  Our paperwork never had to be notarized. Just the forms filled out and signed by the doctor.  If your Dr. works for a bigger medical group, maybe you should go to the head of the medical group and talk to them.  This process is a normal thing that doctors do all the time, so I really don't understand why they would not do it.

They fill out paperwork all the time for physicals (regardless of the reasons).

Answer 9

It does seem odd.

Physicians are under such insurance and bureaucratic pressure these days. They hardly have any time to see patients! So if a patient asks too many questions or asks questions unrelated to what the appointment is for, or just if they don't like them (happens, physicians can be petty just like the rest of us), then sometimes the physician won't want to see that patient. It may be that this doctor, or her office, have just decided that you are "too much trouble." From your perspective you are just trying to get a signature. From theirs, perhaps you have called enough times that they don't want to talk to you again.

I'm also confused about the notary thing. When we had our adoption physicals, in 2004, we did not have to have the notary come to the doctor's office or the doctor go to the notary. The notary just witnessed OUR signatures, testifying to the validity of our information on the form and the exam. As I remember the physician had her own stamp with her license? If you have been suggesting that the doctor needs to come with you to a notary or trying to bring in a notary to witness the signature -- and NOT paying for the appointment -- then I can see why the physician might feel you are too much trouble, or even perhaps be insulted. And maybe you have misunderstood what is necessary? I don't know about your particular paperwork, but I know we did not have to get the notary and the physician in the same room or anything.

So I have 3 possible suggestions:

1) Really take a look at the paperwork again or talk to someone at the agency and make sure you aren't confused. If you have been, go to the physician's office with the forms, some nice pastries for her and the staff, and a sincere apology -- and she'll sign.

2) Call or go down there and make clear that you are willing to pay for an appointment for the notarization. Yes, this is a pain, but still a lot cheaper than starting with another doctor.

3) Get another doctor

Good luck! What a hassle!

Answer 10

maybe she's a birthmother or an adoptee?

she's pretty clear that she hates adoption!

Answer 11

maybe the physician is an adoptee. she may have felt like it was a good idea in the beginning and then got freaked out when she realized that it was actually a reality with that last test. i'm not say it's right but it is a reality. i freak out about alot of stuff i agree to in the beginning for the same reason. it sounded good at the time and then i start to think to hard about how i felt, and what i would feel like if..., and then from there i go to what was i thinking.

i would say to sue the office for your money back and get another one. whatever the reason she isn't comfortable and she won't change her mind and the more you call the harder she will fight it.

Answer 12

Something's fishy here. I'm sure you haven't told the entire story -- and I'm not implying that you're being dishonest. I just think we need more information.

Find another doctor and make sure s/he knows why you want the physicals up front. Make sure s/he will be willing to sign the forms once they're complete and explain that you've had a previous problem. If there isn't anything underhanded going on on your part, contact your current physician's supervisor (the HMO or whatever) and complain.

If you're trying to sneak something by DCFS or your adoption agency, you *will* be caught. There's a reason all of these forms are necessary and it's in the child's best interest that you're 100% honest throughout the adoption process. Think about the child, not yourselves.

ETA: Please reread my first paragraph. I specifically said that I was not implying that you're being dishonest. Stop worrying so much about what other people think of you and go about your business.

Answer 13

talk to your caseworker and find out if you can go to another physician for this. maybe even another one in that same practice?

Answer 14

Just go to another Dr. My first impression was the same as a few others here. This Dr. apparently has issues about adoption.

Answer 15

CHANGE DOCTORS.

Answer 16

Have you been approved by the agency yet?  I know we were approved "pending" the last few pieces of paperwork, so I just wondered.

Regardless of the reasons, I do think you should get answers.  See if the agency (I assume you're going through an agency) can get any answers.  If that doesn't work, maybe go to the doctor's office and ask in person.

If the answer is no, then it's just no.  But it would bug me to no end to not have an answer.

Answer 17

I suggest it is about liability.  Some docs just will not verify anything these days!  A person's health, suitability to parent, etc.  There are people who will not even witness the signing of legal papers which are notarized, because they feel that they will perhaps have to be called into court.

I had a birth mother who was mentally ill, and asked her physician to sign a letter saying she was or was not mentally capable of making an adoption decision.  Even though he had VERY strong opinions one way or the other, he would not sign anything in front of a notary!  

If this is not about an issue with you (which only you know), then it might just be a personal issue with the doc.  A personal bias against you, your age, your country of adoption, etc.

My suggestion?  Go to a different physician.

Answer 18

dude, i don't think he wants you to adopt