Reduction of Harm

If changes are made to the present policy, we believe that harm may be reduced.

• Harm will be reduced if people are given opportunity for reunion specific counselling, so they will understand the dynamics involved for themselves and for their birth relative. When they know what to expect as they go through the process they may be reassured that what they are feeling is similar to what other people involved in potential reunions are experiencing. A counsellor who understands the dynamics involved in adoption will help the person to be realistic in what to expect. They will also have opportunity to consider how to add the new family connections into their current families while considering the feelings of all involved.

• Harm will be reduced if mediation is available. Given the conflicted feelings of grief and loss and of anticipation and of anxiety, it is helpful in some situations to provide the assistance of a third party who understands the push and pull feelings experienced by both and is able to interpret that for both. Sometimes it is easier for both to meet in a neutral place for the first time they meet with the assistance of a third party, so that they can each decide how and if they want to arrange future contact.

• Harm will be reduced if non indentifying information is provided in context with as much detailed information as possible. A summary of information is able to put the information into contact so that information specific to the birth parents is provided.

• Harm will also be reduced if assistance is given in adoption reunion searches. If the person is left with only a name and nothing else to go on, they will be tempted to just search the telephone book and contact anyone with the same last name. They will feel more and more rejected as the search goes on. They may also feel required to pay for someone to do a search for them, using methods that are available to them themselves or which may or may not be successful or welcomed by the other party. This may set up a negative dynamic from the beginning.

• Harm will be reduced if complete medical history information is made available at the time of adoption as is the usual practice in public adoption. Medical issues may come up later, and at the present time a serious medical search can be done as needed. But what do you say when your doctor asks about a history of cancer or heart problems in the family? Twenty or forty years ago when you were placed for adoption, the medical history might have showed that there were no issues. Since then someone in the family may have developed serious medical problems that you should be screened for! To reduce medical harm, we suggest that a central registry be set up where birth families or adoptive families can update medical information for each other so that each will have medical history information readily available as needed.

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