Because health risk is the most important issue for any international adoption, the ability to find out the medical info about the child and processing this info correctly is essential. Using a characteristic Russian adoption as our model for discussion, a family would either receive a medical report prior to traveling or would be permitted to go through the referral child’s medical reports during the 1st trip to meet the child. The medicals are written in Russian and need translation. Translation of medical records can be intricate and can possibly contain mistakes that an inexpert person may not recognize. Moreover, the Russian healthcare system is not the same as the United States system. An example is in making a diagnosis. Those familiar with Russian medicals realize that the Russian physicians are often more harsh and critical medically and they are inclined to state a diagnosis with little or no substantiation. In contrast, a US physician will generally only make a diagnosis when there is verifiable evidence to support the diagnosis.

Early in our adoption experience at Adoption Options, Inc. we would bring older children to the US via our Cherry Orchard program as a host program. These children were from five years of age to twelve years of age. They would stay with host families and be afforded the opportunity to meet potential adoptive parents. As part of this program we would organize for the children to be evaluated by physicians. In one specific program, we arranged with the director of pediatrics of a university teaching hospital to assess the children using his residents. He had extensive international experience. The assessments consisted of reviewing the medical reports supplied by the Russian authorities and undertaking a cursory physical check of each of the children. Later we were invited to attend a teaching symposium with the evaluating residents where each junior doctor offered their results. The striking conclusion was that after each presentation he told each of the residents as to the errors of their findings based upon his international exposure. The point to understand was that families cannot rely on a simple assessment but one done by a doctor that had international experience.

Fortunately for families who wish to adopt children there are a number of physicians and clinics spread throughout the United States that are qualified and offer helpful evaluations. You can find such services by asking your local adoption agency, your placement agency, your local region specific support group, or by searching over the internet. The services provided vary greatly, so talking with people who have already availed their services can assist a lot. If the country with which you are doing your adoption allows it may be possible  to arrange for an independent adoption doctor to evaluate on site during your first trip.

Identifying and evaluating health issues is totally essential with international adoptions. Such assessments add to the cost but this is not something anyone should ever try to do away with. Adopting children internationally is a practical way to complete your family but it does need you to be prepared.

Adoption Options specializes in international adoption and foreign adoption. International Adoption agency focusing on Russian, Kazskhstan, Republic of Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Mexico.