[amyfk]

Hi Sandsstone

Sorry I didnt get back to you earlier. I work at the library and our computers are all filtered for newsgroups(including staff computers). Ironically even if newsgroups can be helpful they are filtered.

I think lovestruck summed up your questions beautifully. I think it really has to do with your personal comfort level.

My family is very type A about health and especially about the health of an adopted child from Russia. So most likely we'll hire a doctor in Moscow. However, other families are more type B and only use an IA doctor stateside(and IVe heard of a family I know personally who didnt use an IA doctor anywhere). So I think it depends on your personal comfort level.

I'm not at that stage yet, but I also think that if you are considering using the services of a doctor overseas you should ask your agency if that is permitted. I believe certain agencies and regions are more permissive of letting a doctor come assess the child at the orphanage while others aren't. I'm not sure if you are allowed to hire your own independent doctor from Moscow or if you have to use a doctor overseas that your agency recommends. Hopefully someone on this board can chime in and give us more insight.

I know of someone who travelled to the Russian far east to adopt. This person told me that not many doctors from Moscow will travel that far. If so, I'm assuming you will be paying big $. I guess that's another question you may want to ask your agency, depending on what regions your agency works in and where your dossier is logged into.

The one thing Ive been told is that adoption is a leap of faith. I assume that you will have a much better idea of the health, development of a child if you hire an IA doctor here and abroad, but I dont think it's a 100% guarantee.

The kind folks on this list and another one gave me the names and contact info. of doctors from Moscow who will travel to the orphanage. If you want this information now, please let me know. I will pm it to you.

Wishing you best of luck,
Amy K, NJ