[hopeful2adopt]

Our son was ill over the weekend and our pediatrician requested that we go to the ER. As we were registering to be seen by the doctors there, we were asked if we brought our adoption papers as proof that we were his parents. According to the registrar, they required proof so that we could sign papers that gave the hospital out consent to treat. I did not have the papers with me, only his insurance card. My son was treated despite not having the papers. I was floored that we were even asked to prove parenthood since I know that friends and relatives with bio children who have recently visited this ER were not asked to prove their parenthood. Obviously, they single out the families that do not match racially. I have already followed through with complaint letters to the hospital and State Attrny. General's office. At the very least, this hospital needs to be educated that if you are going to require proof of parenthood/guardianship, then you require it from EVERYONE not just those who have adopted their child. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this experience.

Also, in case anyone was wondering, my son is fine (which is really the most important thing) just my pediatrician being cautious.

[LisaF]

I have worked in the ER for 20 years as an RN. NEVER, EVER has my facility asked for adoption papers. We do ask if the adult accompanying the child is the parent. If he is on your insurance, he obviously belonged with you. Absolutely disgusting. If you do not get a response from your letters, I would visit the CEO personally.

Lisa, mom to 5 awesome kids. 2 from USA, 1 Guatemalan and 2 Brazilians!

[mdaisyq]

I am in no way defending the hospitals's actions, but since all of our kids came home on IR 4 visas, we are not considered their legal parents in the eyes of the US government, until re-adoption has occurred. I have had problems with school systems with this and have had to get letters from our adoption agency stating that we are in the process of re-adopting the child.

Our oldest, from Korea, was in the ER before we had re-adopted and this was during the 6 month period when our adoption agency was technically responsible for the child and we were his guardians (not sure if this is still the case with Korean adoptions.) We had to report all major medical care to our agency during this period, but, the hospital did not question us, then again, they had not seen many internationally adopted children at that point, and may have not known to ask the questions.

If they asked his place of birth and then asked about proof you were his parents, that would be one thing. If they just out right asked because he was of a different ethnic background, then I say have at 'em.

[hopeful2adopt]

I hear what you are saying, but in this case, this woman was not asking because she was at all familiar with the specifics of Korean adoptions vs. other countries. She was not familiar with how these children come into the country and the re-adoption process. She was isolating us because we were of different races.

Just a quick update, I spoke to the patient advocate at the hospital yesterday and she herself is a caucasian woman who adopted an African American child, she was at a loss why this happened to us as well. She was forwarding our complaint to the supervisors of the registration clerks and hopefully we will get a formal response regarding the resolution of our complaint.

[Shrken7]

Factually I have nothing to add, but this is ridiculous! You clearly were singled out because your appearance. In our instance our older ds is Korean and younger is caucasian. I can't imagine what that would make an older child feel like, since they obviously would understand more of what was going on! I hope whomever made that request of you is looking for a new job away from the public very soon.

[tinkerbell11599]

Roughly 2 1/2 months after our DD #1's arrival, she ended up having an uncontrollable temp due to a bad UTI. Her pediatrician called up there to let the ER know that we were coming.

While we were at the ER, we weren't looked at weird or anything. We ended up in the hospital being admitted through the ER. Not once when I was registering her did they ask me for her adoption papers.

We called our adoption agency just because they have legal custody and informed our social worker what was happening. The next time we had talked to them was I think the day that we left the hospital just to let them know that she was discharged.

I'm not sure what happened to you. Maybe you could report it in to patient relations (or something) at the hospital??

Jen

[Zachary'sMommy]

Our oldest son was in the ER the week after he came home. I told the ER staff that he had just came home from Korea a week ago, and they didn't question anything. We were never asked to prove anything w/ paperwork. They even treated him w/o a valid insurance card as his name hadn't been added to ours yet.