This is the third part of my look at possible individual ethical responsibilities in the practice of adoption. I apologize for the delay, I was not well early this week, but am feeling more myself today. You will find parts one and two of the series here. . .

Ethics In Adoption, Individual Responsibility - Birthparents

Ethics In Adoption, Individual Responsibility- Adoptive Parents

It is obvious , with the current process of adoption in our country, adoption agencies and or professionals hold a great deal of the individual responsibility for conducting ethical adoptions. Unfortunately, many do not practice adoption in a way that truly promotes good ethics and safe adoptions for all. Many of the current practices, followed by many adoption professionals could be found lacking ethically in some of the following ways. . .

* Expectant mothers who come in for services are often not given unbiased counseling. Unbiased being that someone providing the counseling to them is not someone who would have absolutely NO financial interest in the out come of their decision. With an adoption agency, even a non-for- profit based one, they DO have a financial interest in a placement occurring, it is how they most often earn their own income, and pay salaries of their counselors.

* Expectant mothers are often not provided enough information about parenting options and available parenting resources through adoption agencies or professionals, and as a result may find it more difficult to make a fully informed decision for or against adoption placement.

* Adoption agencies or professionals themselves often do not have to meet stringent enough requirements. In many cases adoption facilitators are unregulated and in yet other cases unlicenced. State laws, and agency mandated rules often vary greatly from one location to another, and can open up questions of how ethical an adoption is conducted.

* Because even in a non- for-profit adoption agency, an income must be created to run the business, often lower income potential adoptive families are passed over in favor of those who are more readily able to pay the higher agency expected fees. This practice not only works against those lower income couples who might be prepared to adopt, but it also creates a market, or makes adoption more like a commodity based interaction than a social service.

* Because prospective adoptive couples are then more like “paying customers” for an adoption agency, they do not wish to say or do things that might make them uncomfortable, or afraid to adopt. When that is the mind set, much less occurs in the way of true and thorough adoption education for adopting families. People are not encouraged to see the real complexities of adoption, be prepared to face the challenges, and sadly to even consider that a high level of openness might possibly be an asset to their individual family.

These are just a few of the many ethical issues involving current adoption practice, and adoption professionals. So much of what is done in the current system, as well as under the power of adoption agencies or professionals, needs to be looked at with much more scrutiny. If better, safe adoptions are to occur, some major reform with in the area of adoption professionals is needed. Supporting reforms that will allow more ethical adoptions is important for adopting families, potential placing parents, and birthparents alike.

Cost of Adoption

When Adoption “Professionals” Scam - Part One

When Adoption “Professionals” Scam - Part Two

When Adoption “Professionals” Scam - Part Three

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