[Momof2sons]

Hi. I am adoptee whose adoption was handled by private attorney Iola Dolin of Philadelphia, PA, in October of 1964. I have been searching for many years for my n-family, as have many other adoptees and n-families whose adoptions were facilitated by this attorney.

I'm trying to locate as many adoptees and n-parents as I can used either Dolin during the 50s, 60s and 70s or private attorney Marvin Lundy of Media, PA, during the 60s, 70s and 80s. From what I understand, both of these attorneys used questionable (i.e. illegal or "black market" practices) to procure babies for placement with adoptive parents, often charging large fees.

These practices included not allowing n-moms to see their babies; having no contact with n-parents after transfer was made in the parking lots; changing information regarding birth dates, gender and hospitals; not allowing n-moms to fill out b-certs; and placing babies for profit. Apparently, Dolin used a network of OBs who referred mothers-to-be to her.

I've started a Yahoo group for the purposes of gathering and sharing information among those affected. If your adoption was handled by either attorney, I would very much like to hear about your experiences. You can contact me either at Yahoo! Groups - Join or create groups, clubs, forums & communities or at my e-mail at barbmarquart@yahoo.com.

Thank you.

Barb Marquart

[phillies]

These practices included not allowing n-moms to see their babies; having no contact with n-parents after transfer was made in the parking lots; changing information regarding birth dates, gender and hospitals; not allowing n-moms to fill out b-certs; and placing babies for profit. Apparently, Dolin used a network of OBs who referred mothers-to-be to her.
these actions were not illegal at the time. dolin did not sell babies. she did make a profit. that was her job. dolin did not change birthcerts. all other actions were legal. her records were destroyed after her death in 1984 (24 years ago this month). her family had the right to do this for there were no laws at thetime to prevent them from this action. they did not want the records to fall into the wrong hands. In the mid 70's a news mag. wrote a story about mrs. dolin selling babies. she sue and won. there are no facts to surport this claim. i know first hand how sad it is when one cant find there family history. remember the laws 50 years ago were very different then they are today. were mrs. dolin actions right or wrong, i dont know. illegal they were not. anyone that was a friend of mrs. dolin would tell you she would never brake the law. i know this does not help but dwelling on someone that died 24 years ago wont help. the state has the same records she had. contact the state to open the records.

[Momof2sons]

With all due respect, the issue of whether she ran an illegal practice was not cited in only one magazine in the 1970's but numerous times and from numerous sources. The latest was an Adoption Forum article a few years ago. And there is one law which was exactly the same in the 1960's as it is today: adoptions are supposed to be a not-for-profit business.

Some of Dolin's records were, in fact, destroyed but not by her family; they were destroyed by a flooded basement, and not all the records, either. The reason I know this is because I contacted the family. The rest of the records, according to the family member I spoke to, were still in the hands of a third party. I was told this person was not inclined to release them because "she has an adopted child of her own and does not believe adoptees should have access to their birth records."

I've spoken with other Dolin adoptees whose parents had similar experiences and who have had similar experiences in conducting their own searches. I have also been in contact with a Dolin birth mother who was denied access to her infant in the hospital, just as the articles mentioned.

I have no desire for anything but the truth. If there is a question as to the legality of her practices then an investigation should be made. After 43 years, 25 of them spent searching for a birth family that I may never find if my information was, in fact, altered in any way, I think I'm owed that much. So is every other Dolin adoptee and birth parent. If my birth mother was not permitted access to me in the hospital or she was never given the chance to revoke the consent she gave right after my birth, then fraud was committed - period. You don't have to be a lawyer (which I am) to know that such fraud would, in fact, negate consent and make such an adoption illegal and invalid, even under the laws which existed 43 years ago (not that I'm suggesting such adoptions would be reversed, which would a ridiculous notion). We all know how unregulated an industry adoption is in 2008. Imagine how much easier it was to obtain and transfer babies in the 1950s and 1960's.

the state has the same records she had. contact the state to open the records.


That is exactly what I am trying to do by petitioning the courts. If, after investigation, they determine that no illegalities existed in any of Dolin's adoptions, then they can keep the records sealed until such time as we are successful in overturning the law that Representative Freind was instrumental in getting passed in 1985 - the one which sealed our records. However, if we are indeed correct then on what grounds should such fraud be allowed to stand? And I would argue that fraud by an attorney in even just one adoption taints the rest of the adoptions he/she facilitated.

Although she was a personal acquaintance of my parents, I didn't know this woman personally so I can't speak to her qualities as an individual. I'm guessing from your response that you were a personal friend of hers, not a baby she transferred or a birth parent whom she represented. My only concern is whether she sold babies for profit, illegally obtained consents, altered birth records or committed fraud by falsifying information to the courts. Whether she did or she did not should be for the courts to decide, should it not? If, as you claim, there was nothing illegal about her practice then so be it. However, if even one record was altered or one consent obtained without giving a birth mother a chance to change her mind then a shadow of doubt must be cast over all the rest. And I believe there is enough doubt already to at least warrant an investigation.

Yes, it is sad that records are not open for all adoptees in our state. However, at least in my own case, this is no longer an emotional issue. After 25 years of fruitless searching and the sobering reality that I will probably never know my identity or medical history, there is no emotion left to it. The issue is one of obtaining the truth and righting any wrongs which may have been committed.