The role of the pediatrician in adoption with reference to "the right to know".

The adoption process in our country traditionally has been designed to safeguard the rights of adoptive parents, insure the solidarity of the adoptive family, and preserve the anonymity of the natural parents. To accomplish this, when adoptiomis are finalized, the original birth certificate is “sealed” and a new certificate is issued in the name of the adoptive parents. Once sealed, the laws of most states specify that the original record can be opened only by court order and for “just cause.” A few states have provisions for opening of the records on demand of the adoptee when that person becomes an adult. This provision often turns out to be true in theory but not in practice, and the definition of “just cause” has varied greatly from court to court. Most adoptive parents have warm and loving relationships with their adoptive children. Most try to pass on to them, at appropriate times, as much of the birth information as they know and are able to provide. Most adoptees have a warm and loving and truly bonded relationship with their adoptive parents. In spite of this, and regardless of their attachment to the adoptive parents, some adoptees, as they reach maturity, have a compelling desire to learn of their natural parent or parents. Many adult adoptees and adoption specialists S see this search as essential to the establishment of a sense of identity. Most reports of reunions indicate that adoptees have been pleased with the meeting and that their ties to their adoptive parents have been strengthened thereby. Third, there is the purely legal issue, the growing body of law which has spoken to the right of people to know the content of various records kept about them. The Child Welfare League of America recently reviewed data from 163 adoptive agencies and found over 3,000 adult adoptees returned to these agencies in 1975. ‘ Two fifths of these persons wished to learn the identity or locate their biological family. Three fifths desired identifying information only. In 1975, approximately 1,500 biological parents requested informatiomi about the relinquished child. The Adoption Committee recognizes the strong feelings and arguments to support each side of this multifaceted problem. We feel that a careful exploration of options is in order, often tailored to each adoptee-adoptive parents-natural parent complex. If an adult adoptee requests information, we suggest an orderly exploration with that person to find out what it is he on she really wants to know, and how his on her needs can best be satisfied, particularly with a view to preserving the feelings and rights of the adoptive parents and the biological parents at the same time. More specifically, the pediatrician is in a unique position to assume the role of the child’s advocate as he or she matures. The pediatrician may serve as a clearinghouse for information, such as birth and adoption history. He may advise parents and potential adoptive parents as to anticipated problems, and particularly the possibility that their adoptive child may later want to learn his or her biological identity, and that their cooperation in this effort may improve, rather