The Story:
Skipping ahead in my story a few years, I finally decided to begin the search for my biological family’s medical history on October 5, 2009. I spent a few nights searching the web site of the Missouri Department of Social Services1. I was able to download some forms from the State's Adoption Information Registry2 that I could use to potentially secure that information. Come to find out, though, this process wouldn’t necessarily gain me access to medical histories. It would, however, make my contact information available to those biological family members who were interested in finding me, if any.
Skipping ahead in my story a few years, I finally decided to begin the search for my biological family’s medical history on October 5, 2009. I spent a few nights searching the web site of the Missouri Department of Social Services1. I was able to download some forms from the State's Adoption Information Registry2 that I could use to potentially secure that information. Come to find out, though, this process wouldn’t necessarily gain me access to medical histories. It would, however, make my contact information available to those biological family members who were interested in finding me, if any.
My reason for finally beginning my search for medical information was very simple. I was tired of having to explain to my doctors that I had no knowledge of my family’s medical background. I figured that males and females of all ages die everyday from undiagnosed hereditary health issues. The fact of the matter was that I needed to know what I was up against.
So, I printed the forms from the DSS’s web site, and filled them out with as much information as I could. The rest, however, would be left up to my adoptive parents. According to the Missouri DSS’s web site, adult adoptees that were adopted prior to August 13, 1986 must provide the written consent of their adoptive parent(s). After finalizing everything on my end, I packaged up the documents and mailed them to my Dad.
Sources:
1Missouri Department of Social Services http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/adopt/
2Adoption Information Registry http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/adopt/adoir.htm
The Emotions:
I was a bit concerned with what I might be getting myself into by sending in the application to the Missouri DSS. All I wanted was a medical history, but the potential for gaining identifying information about my biological family was a little nerve-racking. At that point, I hadn’t really prepared myself for such a situation. It may seem to be of no consequence to some, but being able to provide a medical doctor with my medical background is pretty important in diagnosing potential health issues. I was very concerned that there may well have been a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode!
The Advice:
Since the decision to begin a search for biological medical information is up to the adoptee, I don’t believe that I have too much advice here for the adopters. However, all adoptive guardians ought to encourage adoptees to begin this search, and I think that it is in the best interests of all adoptees to take this initial step themselves. The advantages, more than likely, will outweigh any disadvantages.
I’m pretty much the typical man when it comes to visiting a doctor. I balk at the idea! Fortunately, as I have grown older, my outlook on such things has changed for the better. There doesn’t seem to be a perfect time to begin this search, but there is the best time. That would be as soon as humanly possible. The sooner you know the better.
- Andrew
