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Adoption policies and practices

Are adoption practices and policies in United States ethical?

Some say it’s alright to take a baby from a naïve mother or parents; they believe it is the parents “choice” to surrender their child. Why is it that few mothers and fathers in Sweden, New Zealand or Australia make a "choice" to surrender their own children?

How could things be done more ethically? In Current Adoption Policy and Practice - A Comparison of Adoption Practices in North America and Australia Evelyn Burns Robinson, MA, Dip Ed, BSW states: “South Australia was the first state in Australia to put into place adoption legislation which seeks to protect and support the relationship between a newborn child and his or her family of origin, as well as allowing equal access to adoption information when the adopted child becomes an adult. Other states have followed with similar adoption acts.”

“Private adoptions are illegal in all states in Australia. All domestic adoptions are enacted by the State Government departments…The term ‘birthmother’ is out of favor with many of the support groups in Australia and certainly would never be used, as I have heard it in North America, to describe an expectant mother… This sinister use of the term ‘birthmother’…implies that the separation of mother and child is a foregone conclusion.”

In South Australia, the father will be allowed time to establish paternity and if recognized by the court as the father “the fathers consent is necessary before that child can be adopted.” Consent to adoption cannot be given until the child is at least fourteen days old, there is a twenty-five day revocation period, no prospective adopter is considered until after the revocation period is past, and “The mother of the child must be given information in writing regarding the consequences of the adoption, prior to any taking of consent.”

By contrast, American mothers are encouraged to select prospective adopters prior to birth by those who know this will make it harder for her to say “no” later. A mother may be even be encouraged to surrender parental rights prior to birth in some states such as Colorado. Often there is no revocation period or the mother is not told there is a revocation period. She is told her child will be “better off” instead of being told the reality about the known consequences. Fathers are not given time to establish paternity - in fact, fathers rights are largely ignored.

Read More: Adoption Ethics: An Oxymoron

Read More: Is Heritage a Human Right?

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• Positive Adoption Language