Should Aoptees have access to their Original Birth Certificates?

I believe they should have access. Being adopted I would want to have access. The people who don't want us to have access know nothing about adoptions or are threatened by a adopted child loving the birth parent more and forgetting about them.

 

What if the people who put the child up for adoption do not want this information released? Could this discourage people from putting children up for adoption and result in more abortions?

I think some kind of blind system needs to be in place to let the adopted know of medical issues with their original parents.

 

Hmm, this is a tough one.

I'm adopted too. I'm not sure they should have access though. Part of the reason that adoption works is because some birth parents never want to be contacted and are promised anonymity. I wonder how many kids would be abandoned in dumpsters or aborted if frightened teenaged mothers couldn't give them up anonymously.

That being said, I think adoptees have the right to search, and I think that there should be some sort of program in place in which that if the adoptee wants to know, the birth parents should be contacted and given the option to reveal themselves, or answer a few questions, or simply fill out a medical questionaire.

 

Good Point. My reasoning is for an adult adoptee only. Not for anyone under the age of 21.

 

Why 21? You can vote and die for your country at age 18!

 

That's true but believe me being adopted and finding out who your parents are takes alot of maturity. 21 just seems reasonable. It really does mess with you. Speaking first hand here. I found out about my birth parents 6 months ago. I now have a realtionship with my BM but my BF passed away in 1983 due to complications from Vietnam. I found out my fathers name the same day I found out he had passed. Was not a good day. I was his only child.

 

It does take a lot of maturity. I started searching when I was 16, I found my birth mother when I was 26, and my birth father a year later. I do not maintain a relationship with my birth mother, but I do have a great relationship with my birth father and his family.

You have to be prepared for the worst (which is what I found in one case) and just hope for the best (which is what I found in the other).

 

Just knowing where you come from in itself is a great thing.

 

Personal pet peeve of mine that people equate maturity and an age. To think that you are mature enough to vote or die, but not learn about your birth parents. With that said I would support Jennifer's line of thinking about giving the birth parent the choice.

 

So the adoptee has no say??? That is the whole problem!! The person forgotten is the adoptee!!

 

Usually there is a big difference between 18 and 21. Most of the time a 21 yo can still be a child but with greater responsibility. Usually 4 yrs of college if that is the road traveled. Tons of thought has gone into this.

Whether you agree or not adoptees have a voice. We are people to. We can make decisions just like other people. We are not substandard people. We may be bas-My Friend in the publics view by definition but we are still people.

 

Has nothing to do with college. At 18 you are a legal adult with all it's responsibility. Not the government's job or yours to determine someone is more responsible three years later.

Well I can disagree and you have no voice in this matter as the laws are written. The person who had the child has the choice. If they wish to remain anonymous that is their choice. Nobody said it is fair. Nobody said life is fair. What Jennifer said said was very reasonable. The parent that terminated their rights have the choice to remain anonymous.

 

That is the problem. Legislation that was passed by a bunch of uptight politicians that are not directly affected by it. I get very very steamed at this issue.

 

Dragged from another thread. Sorry Can't have it both ways. A birth parent who elects to give up their parental rights should be allowed to remain anonymous.

 

Then we can agree to disagree.

 

The choice for release of information must be mutual. There should be a clearing house of sorts that allows the parties involved to say whether they want the information to be released. If the adoptee does not want contact with the birth parents for whatever reason they may preclude any release, while each of the parents can also choose whether to be revealed or not. This allows for all medical information to be obtained if necessary while assuring only the information authorized is released. The benefit is the level of authorization can change as time goes on and attitudes are also changed. The age is not relevent if the adoptive parents agree, but if not then a limit of 18 to 21 would be needed.

 

But your involvement means you do not see the whole picture either, which is another problem. Would you rather have been adopted or abandoned and become a foster child? That is the type of choice those politicians have to weigh in writing the laws and why the input of the professionals in that segment in very important. The greater good must take precendence.

 

I have no regrets with the life I was dealt. I was lucky. My Adoptive parents have been nothing but wonderful. They have supported me through thick and thin. I am dissappointed my BF is no longer around. I think he and I would have hit it off really well. The more I learn about him, the more I miss him. Even though I have never met him I still feel a bond with him. I know with the love I have for my children and the things my BM has told me that he really wanted me. My whole situation was dealing with my parents parents. They basically influenced my adoption because my dad was shipping out to Vietnam, and my mother was 17 when I was born. But now my grandmother tells me all the time how much she wishes I was around to have been there for my dad. Not all adoption reunions are bad. Just a select few. Jen I am sorry thingss didn't work out for you and your mother. But I am super glad you have your father now.

 

Everyones adoption story is different, and it's hard to remain unbiased, especially if you're touched by adoption.

Things were a lot different when you and I were born SS, unwed girls didn't have babies. Things like that just didn't happen. Now, adoption is as common place as naturally birthing a child. Additionally, more and more adoptions are open, or semi-open, with an agency serving as a liason between adopters and birth parents.

I still think there should be a level of anonymity where records are concerned, but I also understand the frusteration of not having what you need to search, or what you feel you're entitiled to.

My BM has her own set of issues, and I choose not to include those in my life. My BF on the other hand, well, if it tells you anything, they'll be coming to visit this weekend.

 

:mrgreen: That makes me happy. I see my BM all the time. My Sister and my Brother from her side. Things are great all around. I am glad I did it.