70 year old adoptee demands right to know!

Adult adoptee 70 unable to obtain original birth certificate

I am an adoptee born and adopted in New York State. I have no access to my original birth certificate. My original birth record is sealed by the State of New York. Adoptees should be entitled to their original birth certificate and family medical history like other citizens of New York State. Assembly bill A 8410 and Senate bill S 5269 when passed will allow "adult" adoptees at age 18 to obtain their original birth certificate and medical history.

In the 21^st Century medical genetics have an important role in patient care and preventative medicine. The U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Imitative recognized that family medical history can be vitally important in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and illnesses that are genetically based. Adoptees, their children and grandchild are not able to utilize this initiative. N.Y.S. Dept. of Health Adoption and Medical Information Registry will provide, on request to adoptees, non-identifying information. The information I received from N.Y.S. Adoption Registry was scant: age and race of my parents and no medical history.

It is an inherent right of a person to know their birth history, nationality and family religion. Sixty-nine years ago my birth parents and adoptive parents agreed to my adoption. The State sealed all records at that time to protect me, "the child". Now in 2009 they refuse to open the records, they state the need to protect the biological mother. As a 69-year-old adult adoptee I do not need anyone to protect me nor does anyone need protection from me.

Most professions in the field of adoption agree that access to birth and or adoption information is to the benefit of adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents.

Joan Morgan, Vice-President, New York Statewide Adoption Reform's Unsealed Initiative