Adoption Attitudes
Most pediatricians who responded said that adopted adolescents should be supported in their search for information about their natural parents.
Some 61 percent said that all information shared between birth parents and adoptive parents prior to adoption should be through written materials and an intermediary. Thirteen percent disagreed and 26 percent were neutral.
Fifty-eight percent said that when adoption is not by voluntary agreement with birth parents, the birth parents should not be allowed to obtain information about the child after the adoption. Twenty-three percent disagreed and 19 percent were neutral.
Some 55 percent would support adoptive parents’ post-adoption searches for information about their child’s birth parents. Twenty-five percent would not support the search. Twenty percent were neutral.
Fifty-four percent said that it is important for the pediatrician to speak directly to the birth mother of an adoptive infant in the perinatal period. Thirty-two percent disagreed and 23 percent were neutral.
Forty-one percent agreed that adopted adolescents should be supported in their efforts to establish a relationship with their natural parents. Twenty-three percent disagreed and 36 percent were neutral.
Thirty-nine percent said that information sharing prior to adoption should include the option of a face-to-face meeting between the birth parents and adoptive parents. Forty-two percent disagreed and 29 percent were neutral.
Some 15 percent said that after the adoption, adoptive parents should be supported in their efforts to establish a relationship with their child’s birth parents. Fifty-three percent disagreed and 32 percent were neutral.
Fourteen percent said that following adoption, adoptive parents, child and birth parents should have ongoing communication through an intermediary. Sixty-two percent disagreed and 24 percent were neutral.
Ninety percent of the pediatricians in direct patient care report treating adopted children in their care, the survey shows. Only 10 percent either do not have adopted patients or do not know whether their patients are adopted.
About half of the pediatricians ask patients or parents whether the children they treat are adopted.
Most pediatricians who treat adopted children report that medical information needed to treat adopted patients is not very readily available. On a scale where 5 equals “very readily available” and 1 equals “not at all available,” pediatricians’ mean response was 2.83.
The pediatricians surveyed were split on when to counsel children about their adoptions. Some 19 percent said that children should be told they are adopted at 8 years of age or older, should not be told at any age or that they do not discuss the adoption with their patients and parents. Some 36 percent said that it is best to tell children that they were adopted between the ages of 3 and 7 years; 24 percent said that children should be told before they are 3 years old; and 22 percent said they leave the decision up to the adoptive parents.
Most pediatricians surveyed said adoption reforms are needed. Among their reactions:
- Eighty-six percent said they would like to see an increase in the awareness of adoption as an alternative choice in unwanted pregnancies.
- Seventy-one percent said that uniform forms for medical records should be provided across agencies.
- Sixty-eight percent said that respite care services for special-needs families should be increased.
- Sixty-six percent said that changed are needed to improve pre-adoption counseling to prospective parents.
- Sixty-two percent said post-adoption counseling for adoptive families should be improved.
- Sixty-two percent said increased financial incentives to prospective parents of special-needs children are needed.
- Fifty-seven percent said that families should be encouraged to adopt.
- Fifty-four percent said adjustments in waiting time for final adoptions are needed.
- Forty-two percent favor increased adoption options for single parents.
- Thirty-nine percent said more money for medical and psychological assessments of adopted children is needed.
- Nineteen percent said prospective parent criteria should be relaxed.
- Ten percent said perspective adoptive parents should be allowed in the delivery room.
Female pediatricians are more likely than their male counterparts to support the need for change in adoptions. Some 65 percent of female pediatricians believe adjustments in the waiting time for final adoptions is necessary as compared with 50 percent of the male pediatricians.
About 58 percent of the female pediatricians believe there should be increased financial incentives to prospective parents of special-needs children. Thirty-seven percent of the male pediatricians agree.
