Does Maine ROCK, or what?

Robin W

Yes, it does. It will be even more fabulous when records are opened for natural mothers, as well. The only thing that I feel reservations about is the medical history form. We are all protected by HIPAA as far as our rights to give only the information we choose. It would be a real legal tangle if they tried to demand information. Most mothers will be thrilled to hear from their children lost to adoption during the bad old days. Any info exchanged after that should be between the mother and the adult child.

PhilM

Indeed it is!

Now... the rest of the country!!!

ETA: There is no right to anonymity. For anyone. Sorry.

Serenity71

It sounds like progress for many people in the US.

Besides why is it just adoptee's that would be happy? It may surprise you that some adoptive parents would be happy too for their kids to be able to have access to this information. (Not all are scare and insecure, controlling maniacs who want to hide the truth.) And Nparents too that have waited years for this change.

This is the norm in my State and most of Australia, and it has been for some time, at least 15 years. Once people get over the intial newness to it all it will just be normal to have this information and opportunities available to adoptee's and Nparents and new adoptive parents.

Laws are now currently being passed in NSW allowing relinquishing parents to have a copy of the original birth certificate from the time its registered.

Some people will be scared others will rejoice, its goes hand in hand with change.

Well done for progress.

aloha.girl59

YAY!
I agree with Phil. Now it's time for the rest of the country to smarten up and do the same!

grumppopotamus

HELL YEAH!

Kazi

A great way to start '09!!

âœ§ â“â“˜â“›â“¨ â™¥ kaelers, emy & bella

That's fantastic!!!!! I hope the rest of the country follows suit quickly!

Erin L

Yah Maine! Congratulations Maine adoptees!

Gaia Raain II

Huh. I thought the reform movement wasn't working. Interesting. Thanks for the info, Sunny!

;-)

SJM

Congratulations, Maine! Let freedom ring!

Sophie

This is absolutely awesome. :-))

I Love A Child With Autism!!!

It's about time, now if every other state would quickly follow suit that would be even better!

Not Adopted

"I strongly support a person's right to anonymity if they so choose."

There is no such thing as a right to be anonymous to those you give birth to...no law, no constitutional amendment, no contracts have ever been found to document this so-called "right to privacy" for natural mothers and fathers.

"Privacy" is a myth created and perpetuated by the adoption industry (and I suspect by politicians and priests who fear their "indiscretions" may suddenly appear at their next fundraiser or sermon).

kitta

When adoptions were first codified in law in the USA, the documents were available to all named parties, on both sides.

Identities are not,normally, a secret matter for anyone in families.Relatedness confers a form of familiarity that presumes awareness of each other.

Parents and children are not entities who have a recognized right to hide their identities from each other. They can't be. Mothers and their children, in particular, have a necessary pre-natal connection to each other.They are already a part of each others privacy.

This new Maine access law also includes the adopters, I think. It gives the adopters access to the OBC, but does not give anyone in the natural family access to the adopted person's new identity, nor to the adoptive parent's identities.

Fair and equal access would give all parties access. this is a 14th Amendment issue

As it stands, the only inclusion for natural family members seems to be the government medical history form.This may be the wave of the future. Natural families will be asked or required to supply medical history to the government. this is a violation of federal HIPAA, and will likely affect many people, without their knowing.

Since everyone is probably related to an adopted person somewhere, everyone stands to have their medical history passed on to the government without their knowlege or their permission.

Although there is no "right" to privacy between parents and children's identities, there is a right to privacy. It is the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution.This was the amendment that was decisive in the 1965 Griswold Supreme Court decision, which overturned Connecticut's law banning artificial contraceptive devices.

HappyMomAnna

It's about time! I would have thought that the other states would catch up to Oregon much quicker then nearly 10 years!

***Who said Maine was the first state?

Lucy da cat

lucy da cat gives two paws up to maine!

Dan B.

totally cool

Independ"ant"

Not surprised Maine is the first state....they are very Pro Nature in general.

Most adoptee's and natural parents must be ecstatic over this news.

I couldn't help but notice that the adoptee interviewed pointed out that his Aps asked him (guilt him) to wait until he had graduated before searching. I still don't get whats up with that. Are they trying to get their moneys worth?.

lasallemom

That is wonderful news. I know of some people here in Ontario that would like that. However, though it is great for the adopted children some birthmothers may be worried about it as they may have never told anyone about having a child before.

Julia S

I'm not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I understand wanting to know about your birth family (especially for medical background information). On the other hand, I worry that some birth parents might not want to be found.

I strongly support a person's right to anonymity if they so choose.

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