[sak9645]

You will usually require two medical reports, one for your homestudy and one for your dossier. You can see the doctor once, but he/she will need to complete two forms.

As far as the form for your homestudy, the content will be mandated by your state and your homestudy agency's policy. There will probably be some checkoff boxes, plus an area for the doctor to indicate whether you are likely to have a normal lifespan and he/she sees any other barriers to adoption. Very few homestudy agencies will have a problem with treatment for anxiety or depression, as long as there is no history of suicide attempts or inpatient therapy. Most social workers would rather see a person get help than go through life anxious and depressed, and feel strongly that therapy or medication can make a person a BETTER parent.

Each foreign country has its own medical form and its own requirements. With some countries, the medical form is very basic. There will be some required medical tests -- for example, an HIV test or a TB test. There will be some checkoff boxes for conditions like cancer. There may be some questions about substance abuse. And there may be a place where the doctor indicates whether you are fit enough to meet the challenges of parenthood and are likely to have a normal lifespan.

Other countries are more strict, and want more tests and more statements about whether or not you have had certain medical conditions. China has become quite strict lately. It is concerned not only about the usual issues, but about obesity, medication for anxiety or depression, etc.

Your best bet is to do some research about the medical requirements of any country from which you might want to adopt. There may be some countries that simply won't accept you, even though you are healthy and likely to have a normal lifespan. On the other hand, there are probably plenty that will.

Sharon