Sunday, March 21, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Parent decries adoption secrecy

Others say opening records causes harm

For Geoff McAlister, the shroud of secrecy surrounding adoptions has caused his family an agony that has touched three generations.

His mother's inability to access her adoption records before the birth of her granddaughter deprived her of crucial family medical history.

McAlister's daughter, just hours after birth, suffered a devastating stroke as a result of a genetic heart defect. Now 12 years old, Krystal takes stroke-preventing medicine three times a day, wears leg braces and must endure speech and physical therapy.

During Saturday's Legislative Subcommittee Hearing on Children Youth and Families, McAlister said his daughter's stroke could have been prevented with a shot that cost about $27, had family members and doctors known about his mother's medical history.

McAlister was among about a dozen people advocating at the hearing for the rights of adult adoptees to access their birth and adoption records, which they hope would include potentially life-saving medical history and clues about their identity, such as their ethnic background.

But several parents of adopted children cautioned that opening records could violate the privacy rights of the adoptive parents as much as the natural parents. Some also contended that more women could opt for abortion if they believed the adopted child might find them later.

Deborah Gregg, who adopted two girls and also works as the director of adoption services for Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, urged legislators to define the types of records that should be open to adoptees and adoptive parents.

Gregg noted that agencies often keep records of adoptive parents and natural parents, which might not be relevant or fair to share with adoptees. She said agencies also put together confidential reports about adoptive parents for judges to consider during adoption proceedings, which can't be viewed by anybody.

"I don't know if I'd want my (adopted) child to see that or not, because I don't know what's in it," she said.

Gregg also questioned whether birth and adoption records could be resealed after the affected parties viewed them or remain open to the general public.

Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, the chairwoman and sole member of the committee on adoption, said she would compile testimony and research on the matter to present to the full committee in April.

She said a work session, which could result in a bill draft regarding birth and adoption records is scheduled for August.