| to the decision to adopt internationally initiates an | | | | children were from five years of age to 12 years of |
| extraordinary journey. For a number of families, | | | | age. These children would live with host families and |
| adopting internationally is the most exciting and | | | | be afforded the opportunity to meet likely adoptive |
| important event in their life leading to the fulfillment | | | | parents. As part of this program we would |
| of having a child and completing their dreams of a | | | | co-ordinate for the children to be medically evaluated. |
| family. While this procedure can guide you to success | | | | During one particular program, we set up with the |
| it is not always easy and has quite a few risks | | | | director of pediatrics of a university teaching hospital |
| associated with it. One of the risks of international | | | | to evaluate the children using his residents. The |
| adoption is to figure out why children are available for | | | | director had extensive international experience. The |
| adoption. The biggest reason for availability is | | | | evaluations consisted of reviewing the medical |
| poverty. With poverty comes health risk. It is not | | | | records provided by the Russian authorities and |
| meant that all children are frail, but to recognize that | | | | undertaking a cursory physical check of each of the |
| a primary issue to plan for in your international | | | | children. At the end of the evaluations this physician |
| adoption is how to assess and screen for health | | | | invited us to attend a teaching symposium with the |
| issues. While educating yourself is the 1st step in | | | | evaluating residents where each junior doctor offered |
| health assessment, choosing an internationally | | | | their results. The striking outcome was that after |
| experienced physician for check up is the most | | | | each presentation he informed each of the residents |
| essential step. | | | | as to the mistakes of their findings based upon his |
| Because health risk is the most significant issue for | | | | international exposure. The lesson to understand was |
| any international adoption, the ability to find out the | | | | that families do not need just any evaluation but one |
| medical info about the child and processing this info | | | | done by a physician that had international experience. |
| correctly is essential. Using a characteristic Russian | | | | Fortunately for families who wish to adopt children |
| adoption as our example for discussion, a family | | | | there are a number of physicians and clinics in the |
| would either be sent medical report before traveling | | | | United States that are competent and offer helpful |
| or would be permitted to review the referral child's | | | | evaluations. You can locate such services by asking |
| medical records during the 1st visit to meet the child. | | | | your local adoption agency, your placement agency, |
| The medicals are written in Russian and require | | | | your local country specific support group, or by |
| translation. Such translations can be intricate and can | | | | searching over the internet. The services provided |
| possibly contain errors that an inexpert person may | | | | vary greatly, so discussing with people who have |
| not recognize. Moreover, the Russian medical system | | | | already availed their services can assist a lot. If the |
| is not the same as the United States system. An | | | | country with which you are doing your adoption |
| example is in diagnosing. Those familiar with Russian | | | | allows it may be possible to arrange for an |
| medicals realize that the Russian doctors are often | | | | independent adoption doctor to appraise on site |
| more severe and critical medically and they are | | | | during your first trip. |
| inclined to state a diagnosis with little or no | | | | Screening for health issues is totally vital with |
| substantiation. On the contrary, a US doctor will | | | | international adoptions. It definitely adds to the cost |
| usually only diagnose when there is verifiable | | | | but this is not something anyone should ever try to |
| evidence to support the diagnosis. | | | | shortcut. Adopting children internationally is a practical |
| Early in our adoption experience at Adoption Options, | | | | way to complete your family but it does need you |
| Inc. we would bring older kids to the US via our | | | | to be prepared. |
| Cherry Orchard program as a host program. These | | | | |