Should Adoption Records Be Open?

I am an adopted child. I have never really wanted information about my birth parents; however,
the medical history from the mother and the father should be provided for future need.My children
feel that they have been short changed in not having that information.

Just thought I'd throw in an interesting piece of information I gathered during my graduate studies as an MSW student. Adoption, in the very beginning, WAS open and all information about the parent was available. It wasn't until people in certain states started changing the laws that adoptive children were no longer able to have access to their info, if the birth parent so choosed. I am very much for having the info available. If you give birth to a child, you are responsible for letting them know at least their medical history. It could end up saving their life one day.

I am in the medical field., It is difficult to treat a patient whom knows little or nothing about their medical history. I feel as a parent, child, or medical personal., that each individual should be able to have access to this important information. Let it be the choice of the individual as to whether or they want the contact/relationship., but, MEDICAL INFORMATION would benefit so many...Thank you for the opportunity to speak out on this subject...

I believe they should open the records. I wasn't adopted I was just given up at 3 days old. The man that I was given to was a friend of my bio mom. He took me to his sister who wanted a child. She was not the best person to take care of a child at that time or any other time for that matter. I found out that I was not her child at age 8, from that moment on I always woundered about my mother and how did she look, when I got older and had kids of my own I shared this information with my husband and he incouraged me to look for her. I was afraid because I did not know if she would accept me or not. I found out that I had brothers also. My father was the best dad that I could ever have, that's not my bio dad. Anyway I got in contact with my bio mom and we do share a beautiful relationship. I feel that children do need to know their biological parents let it be the choice of the child if they want to have a relationship with them or not. The children are the best judges.

I found out at age 36, shortly before my 37th birthday in fact, that I was adopted! I don't want to meet my birth mother but I do want a better idea as to my medical history. I don't want to be a part of my birth mother's life or have anything to do with her, I just want the medical info for myself and my daughter. From what my mother has told me (and she is MY MOTHER!) this person is still alive. I haven't tried to locate her because I don't want to upset my mother. My dad died in 1972 when I was 12, almost 13. From what I have been told he was my father, that he got a young girl pregnant and I was adopted. My aunt confirmed this information when I checked with her shortly after my mom told me. I just want medical info, nothing else. We need a law written so this can be accomplished. I don't want to invade her life, I just want to make sure I know this information for my daughter's life and mine.

Yes, I say, open the records, because everyone should know their "History". Opening the records do not necessarily mean that they would be great reunions because not every parent/child want to be reunited, but at least, for THOSE WHO WANT TO, the access to records would allow for such. Maybe I am being selfish since I was not adopted but isn't it always some wonderment as to "what my parents look like? for adoptees?

My age is now 75 years young, I was told at the age of 6 that I was adopted..so for all these years, I've been through about every though that cold be thought..They took me to visit my Grandparents, on that day my Real Mother showed up and i met her and even at the age of 6, I did not like her...I meet my brothers and sisters later in life...We had nothing in common,
Sitting here to-night and looking back, I could of done with out ever knowing any of them,,,,,
the meeting rob me of a lot of peace of mine all these years...I just did not need or had no need for them...I loved my Parents that adopted me and that is all I needed...

Ynotastar from Oklahoma..that's my story...

Now here I am years later on the other end of this situation. I have 3 kids and now also have an adoptied son. We know of his bio mom and want nothing to do with her, dad is dead, but we still have little else to go on. The child has serious emotional issues due to abuse and we know of some medical issues in his siblings to watch out for. But it would be so nice to be able to have the full picture so we can better care for him over the years and so he will know for when he marries and has children of his own! But, bio mom would not give any info and they could not make her! That pisses me off!!! She should have been forced to give medical info on all the kids, when she lost them, so they could be cared for properly! At the least their doctors should have had to turn it over. But, nope! Thats BS!

So, to me in this current situation...I would love to be able to find out anythign I can to help my son! And if I could still also find info on my fathers bio parents, it is never too late.

This a really touchy subject!!! And a very mixed one, depending on the situation and people involved.

My father was adopted at birth adn never wanted to know who his bio parents were. He had a wonderful family and as far as he was concerned...they were his real family. When I became pregnant with his first grandchild, I got to thinking it would be nice to know of any medical history that might be of issue and mentioned it to him that I would like to recearch his bio family. He got angry and said that his parents, who raised him, were all the family he cared about and did not want me going further with this notion. I was sadened and deeply hurt that he did not understand my concern was only for my baby and had nothing to do with finding people to extend our family! Besides, at his age, they most likely would be dead anyway. All I wanted was medical records. not the people themselves.


to b cont...

It was so good to read others' opinions that are just like my own. It doesn't seem that long ago that it would have been the other way around. Thank goodness we recognize children as a deserving human being with rights like anybody else. Many of you said it so well, but I especially like Midori's view in saying, "I think the kid's 'need to know' comes before our 'right to privacy'". Thank you all for sharing your stories, too....very bittersweet.