I was loading the washer just now and it thinking about sealed records etc. that there seems to be a fundamental flaw in the argument to keep records sealed – something some people seem to feel really passionate about.
The big issue with open access advocates is the access to medical history.
The argument I am seeing more and more from the other side is that even in biological families, medical history can be spotty at best.
My thoughts on that are, if you are part of a biological family and you don’t have a complete medical history – that makes me sad – I’m sorry your family chose not to keep that type of information readily available – although, I suspect if you did suddenly come down with something – it’d be fairly easy for you to remedy this wrong by making a few phone calls.
This isn’t even an option for those who are adopted. Right now, if we want medical information we have to set out on a sometimes expensive and look search to gain access and if you’re ill, this may not even be an option.
I also see the argument that not everyone wants or needs access – which is fine, I think access is a personal decision and one that should be left up to those involved…
…but the way the laws are now, it takes the choice out of the hands of those most impacted and forces a specific outcome. Why can’t we open records and, I don’t know, tell those folks who don’t want access to…ya know, not get it? It seems rather simple to me.
If you don’t want access to your records, medical history or heritage information – don’t get it. Done.
If you do – then make available a way for that to happen.
In my opinion, this is one way that both sides can have what they want – either no access or all access. It’s a personal choice as I said before.
I guess I just don’t understand why, when there is a way to make both sides happy, we still have these archaic laws that support only one view of adoption records.
That’s all – just something I’m going back and forth with this morning…ya know, while I should be getting ready for work or something.
Oh and happy birthday to the husband. Yay!
Related posts:
