Medical issues and adoption?

There was a question posted just a little while ago...Someone inquiring about the likelihood of being able to adopt since she and her husband had medical issues (chronic and long term ones, in particular).

One of the answerers responded that they should explore foster adoption, since she knew someone with chronic health issues that was approved.

I have a health issue that was caused by a vaccine I had as a kid. It could have been major, but due to major preventative measures, and a very, very healthy lifestyle, it doesn't require any medication, nor does it have any real effect on my daily life. It also will not affect my lifespan in any way.

Now, even with all that said, I STILL had to get several letters, one from an endocrinologist, one from my GP and one from an immunologist. The letter from the endocrinologist needed to take into consideration a recent round of bloodwork, as well as a physical exam. (No worries, I'm healthier than most of the population, and passed with flying colours. ;-) )

I guess I'm a little horrified that they would set the standards so low...We never would have applied to foster if we thought for one moment we wouldn't be healthy enough to be active, healthy parents.

What are the standards in your region? I'm not sure if my situation was atypical or not...If there is a medical issue, what do you think PAPs should have to do to ensure that they are not setting that child up for a loss down the road? What medical standards should be in place to ensure that children are not going from the frying pan into the fire?

Thanks in advance.

Erin L

I didn't foster adopt, and I don't know the standards in my region for that. I know for my international adoption, we only had to have a medical form signed by a physician stating we were healthy enough to raise a child. We are both young, active, and healthy. But, you know, this is one of those things that I really wrestle with. Foster children NEED homes, so there is some consideration of is a permanent family with a parent at risk of a serious disease better than being bounced around from foster home to foster home? It's a risk/benefit analysis that I guess social workers wrestle with, and I see the difficulty in making that kind of decision. I know that standards are lower also in many international adoption programs for sibling groups and special needs children, CHILDREN WHO NEED THE MOST ATTENTION AND CARE! For instance, China's stricter standards are often waved in those cases, and singles and people who don't meet the health or bmi requirements for the nsn program are allowed to adopt special needs children. So, on the one hand, children who are truly castaways in their own country and would truly have a dismal life are given a chance for a family, on the other hand, they are the kids who need a family most able to attend to a lot of needs and they don't get that. I don't know the answer of what should be done.

â™¥â™¥Mum To Superkids is engagedâ™¥â™¥

Well, for example, I'm a diabetic. I'm a foster parent and have adopted my son. While I am insulin dependent and have been diabetic the majority of my life, my control, lifestyle factors and overall health is great. I have excellent blood sugar control, and no diabetic complications, so there is no reason why I should not have the same expected life span as a non-diabetic. Yes, my health would worsen if I was to let it go, but the same can be said for anybody, chronic disease or otherwise.

Now, if I had heart disease, for example, that would have to be explored a lot more. They would be especially interested in how the stress of raising children may impact your health situation, and that was something that my assessing social worker also discussed with me.
I also had comprehensive medical tests done, as a part of my application to foster. They sound very similar to yours and needed to inlude details of any disease or illness.

Basically, they were looking for any medical condition that can impair your day to day abililty to raise children, and/or lower your expected life span. People with chronic health issues, which impact on their daily activities, certainly wouldn't be approved in my area.

Sunny

A vaccine caused an injury? No, AnnaBelle, vaccines are like adoption--all good. LOLOLOLOL

For the record, I agree with your concerns.

minimouse68

If you're relatively healthy, and your condition isn't life limiting then I cant see a problem with foster to adopt. In my case though, I have cardio myopathy, I wouldn't let me adopt......my chances for a long life span just arent that good.

cricketlady

As long as a medical exam shows you are in reasonable health and the doctor signs off on it you are in good standing health wise. there are no guarantees in place for any of us. Maybe they should also take into consideration that fifty per cent of all marriages in divorce.

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