[klovespearl]

Hi,
I am new to this forum and just started the adoption journey. We are working towards adopting from China and hoping to get some information regarding access to our personal medical records. I understand we submit a medical history for the home study signed by our doctor stating how medically fit we might be as adoptive parents. Can a social worker or anyone other than our doctor request to view our medical records? We do not intend to omit anything in our paperwork, but before we start I wanted to see who has access to that personal information. Any advice or information regarding the medical portion of the application process is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Couchkat]

No, I don't think anyone can request your medical records, but you do need to be truthful in your paperwork.

[hoping44]

We are in the process of our 2nd adoption and neither our social workers nor our agencies have ever requested information directly from our doctors. For our first adoption, the agency did request a letter explaining a surgery, but they went through us. I don't think the agency would be able to access your records.

[sak9645]

You are not releasing your medical records to anyone.

You simply take the medical form required by your state for the homestudy, and the medical form required by China for the dossier, to your doctor.

There will be some "history" questions on the form, which the doctor will answer by looking at your records and possibly asking you questions. As an example, he may have to report whether you have ever had a diagnosis of cancer, whether you have had a sexually transmitted disease, whether you have been treated for alcoholism or drug addiction, whether you have had any surgical procedures in a certain time period, or whether you are currently taking any medications and, if so, for what.

If you haven't had a recent physical exam, or if your most recent physical exam did not include the tests that are requested on the forms, your doctor will need to do the exam and order the tests. He/she will then report those results that are requested, such as those for your urinalysis, HIV test, TB test, etc. Height and weight will usually be recorded.

The forms may also ask a general question about your physical and mental fitness to parent, which the doctor can answer very simply with a statement like: "The patient is in good health and is likely to have a normal lifespan. She appears well equipped for the physical and emotional challenges of parenting an internationally adopted child."

If you have sought any counseling, you will probably be required to have a letter from your therapist, in addition to one from your regular doctor. He/she will be asked to state your diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

In general, agencies, your state, and China, will accept your doctor's report, as written. Once in a while, there will be a request for clarification. YOU will have to obtain the clarification, by asking your doctor to write a note explaining something -- for example, that you did have a breast biopsy last year, but that it was negative, with no evidence of any cancer.

There is absolutely no requirement, ever, for a social worker or anyone else to examine your medical records.

Sharon

[flowermom]

Both Dh and I have been through counseling but many years ago. Will they still need a note from the therapist? I don't know if I would be able to track her down!

I was trainging to be a therapist at the time and the majority of it was just for self improvement and self awareness. I just wonder if they look at counseling as a problem.

[specialk4b]

I think the form we had asks if you were treated for depression. Not specifically about counseling. I think different agencies may have different forms. The question would be completed by your current doctor and only if the answer raised some concerns would you possibly be asked for addditional information from your original counselor.

[ashmilf]

Originally Posted by flowermom

Both Dh and I have been through counseling but many years ago. Will they still need a note from the therapist? I don't know if I would be able to track her down!

I was trainging to be a therapist at the time and the majority of it was just for self improvement and self awareness. I just wonder if they look at counseling as a problem.

Check with your agency. They will be able to tell you what you need to include. We had a few questions about things that happened for me and my agency was able to tell me yes include it or no don't even worry about it.