Appendix 3 - annex
NOTES ON ADOPTION MEDICAL FORMS
Why is medical information necessary?
There are several reasons:
a) Medical information about the child and, as far as possible about his natural parents, is required before the Home Office can consider whether to give permission for the child to enter this country for adoption.
b) Those who are responsible for the child in his country of origin need to have sufficient and
accurate medical information about the child and about the prospective adopters to help them make plans which are in the child's interests. If adoption is planned before the birth of the child, details of the mother's health are vital. This is crucial if placement is to be direct from a hospital.
c) Health information is needed on natural parents and their close relatives especially about
hereditary conditions. This will facilitate health care and decision-making for the child through- out his childhood and provide him with vital information which he may need as an adult.
d) The people who adopt the child need to be given all the relevant information including medical
information, to help them to care for their child and to respond to his or her questions.
e) The law in Britain requires medical information about the child and the prospective adopters to
be submitted to the Court before the adoption hearing can take place.
2. What information is needed on the child?
Forms for the collection of medical information relevant to adoption have been designed by the Medical Group of British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) and the Home Office recommends that you obtain the medical forms relating to the child included in the overseas pack and send them for completion to the people who are currently caring for the child.
3. What about Medical Information on us as adopters?
If you are requested by the overseas agency to provide information about your own health, you can do this by forwarding the form Adult 1 which is included in the overseas pack available from BAAF. Adult 1 is a detailed report on your medical history and present medical condition and it requires a full medical examination.
Usually the overseas agency will ask you to contact a British adoption agency to arrange a home study. This could be done by your local authority social services department or a voluntary adoption society. The voluntary adoption society will in any case need to contact your local authority. If a home study has already been prepared by an adoption agency this should help with the later consid- eration of the application for entry clearance. The medical forms on yourselves will have to be completed by your own medical practitioner (GP) and returned by him to the agency that has carried out the home study. They will then include any relevant medical information in their report to the agency overseas that is caring for the child. You will have to meet the cost of these medical examin- ations and reports.
Occasionally you may be dealing direct with the child's agency abroad in which case you should provide your doctor with a covering letter and a stamped addressed envelope so that he can send the completed forms to the overseas agency.
Very occasionally your GP will give the completed forms to you, in which case you should send them to the agency that has completed the home study or, if no British agency has been involved, to the Home Office with any other documentation that has been required.
4. How do I obtain the medical forms?
Complete the attached order form and send it with your remittance to BAAF, 11 Southwark Street, London SE1 1RQ.