Seanad debates

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Feargal QuinnFeargal Quinn (Independent)

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 24, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following subsection:

"(2) It shall be the duty of the Authority to obtain, where possible, the medical records of the biological parents of adopted children and to make such records duly available to the adopted children or their guardians through the HSE.".

This amendment arose from an approach from a person whom I have known for 20 years. This man had been adopted at a very early age and had not met his birth mother until quite recently, certainly in the past ten years. He had always suffered from a particular illness. When he met his birth mother for the first time and was made welcome, he told her of this illness. She told him his father had the same illness and that she was sure this is where he had inherited it from. Had he and his medical advisers known this at an early stage, while the illness would not have been cured, it could have been delayed and restricted and he could have been helped a great deal.

It seems it is possible to help in this regard. I am not certain the amendment is totally accurate or capable of being enforced and, therefore, I included the term "where possible" because I assume it is not possible in many cases. In this case, however, and in many like it, it seems a shame the adopted child was unaware of the inherited illness when, had he known it, it would have been of great benefit.

I have also referred to the anonymity of the parents in order to protect them. While I am not sure if this is the ideal way to do this, I put forward the proposal because I believe it is worthy of consideration, which I hope the Minister of State will give it.

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