Copyright © 1998, 1999 by Cynthia Teeters. All rights reserved. 

As prospective adopters prepare for their future adoption they are rightfully concerned about the medical health of the child they will be adopting. Whether they believe they would best be able to parent a child who does not present severe medical challenges or they have chosen to parent a child with medical special needs, it is important for the prospective adopter to have as complete and valid information as possible. This not only allows for the parents to be assured that they are able to successfully parent their new child but it also allows them to appropriately plan for medical services before the child arrives.

There is a small group of physicians who have chosen to work with children adopted internationally and who are available for consultations. What these physicians attempt to do for us adopting families is what many other physicians and pediatricians often refuse to do or do poorly based on their inexperience with international adoption and medical information typically given with an adoption referral.

It is totally against a physician's medical training to try to make an accurate determination of previous, current and potential health from the very questionable materials they are given. Additionally, they are not allowed to see the children themselves nor are they able to schedule definitive tests from trusted labs and clinics.

They do give consultations because we as a group have demanded it of them. They take as their job to be advoc ates both of the adopting parents and of the children. This is no small feat. It should be our responsibility, therefore, to approach the process in a way which maximizes the usefulness of the process and the efforts of the physicians.

In seeking a medical consultation for an adoption referral one should:

• Identify who you wish to use and contact them in advance of receiving a referral so they are aware you will be requesting a consultation.
• Understand and honor that physician's process for such a consultation. How do you notify them? How do you send copies of the records and/or video? How and when might you be contacted? Will you receive the materials back?
• Have an alternative plan if the physician is not available when you receive your referral.
• Use the time waiting for a referral to educate yourself on the medical, developmental and emotional issues involved with international adoption. Consider what you can and can not handle as parents.
• Steel yourself from the emotional upheaval of receiving a referral and then having it evaluated by a physician. It is not an easy process and it is important to realize that an honest description from the physician is not a value judgment of the child.
• Know from your agency or facilitator if more information can be obtained if requested. Understand that you may be asked to make a decision even though there are still unknowns about certain issues.
• Understand that even with the best of intentions of orphanage staff, agency personnel and consulting physicians, there are still no absolute guarantees. The decision and leap of faith ultimately rest with you.
• Help these physicians to gain even more experience in international adoption by having them provide initial screening of the child after the adoption or, if you are using your own local physician for initial screening, providing them with the screening results.

Remember that the physician is advocating for you and the child and hopes to help with finding the perfect match.