Adoption is an Alternative Act (Law'd)

[Cassius]

I firmly support the first two provisions of this bill; however, I think that, in the case of the third provision, there should be an option for the mother to have the data destroyed, or, at the very least, made unobtainable, as a kind of opt-out system. Just a thought there.

[Cassius]

This is a bit of an effort to address the abortion issue without going through the usual route and the usual debate to the death. When I was Midwest Governor Cris proposed something very similar before the Althing (it passed, and Cris has to be given all the credit for the idea), and I found it fascinating enough to try to see how this would work on the federal level. I considered using the German system of "baby-hatches" for a time, but since I wasn't fully convinced of the idea I decided to go with this version and put some emphasis on protecting the right of the adopted child to learn about his origin.

I firmly support the first two provisions of this bill; however, I think that, in the case of the third provision, there should be an option for the mother to have the data destroyed, or, at the very least, made unobtainable, as a kind of opt-out system. Just a thought there.

That's an interesting idea, but I do feel one of the most important parts of this bill is precisely allowing the child to obtain the data at some point (I personally wouldn't want to deny him that right). But I am genuinely curious, why do you think the mother should have that option?

Well, basically, on the one hand, such a situation (the child obtaining the data and proceeding to track down the mother) could be a tad, how shall I put this... awkward. Indeed, one of my very good friends, who was adopted, recently did that, and it proved a bit of a fiasco, the whole meeting up thing. Not only that, but it can also be awkward for the adopting family too (as it was in the above case). Personally, I think that there'll be plenty of mothers who want to move on from whatever had led them to that particular pass in the first place, and the possibility of the child turning up 18 years later, when you might have settled down and started a brand new life, has the potential to be disruptive and possibly painful. I'd have it as an opt out system, but I think the option should be there regardless.

[Cassius]

This is a bit of an effort to address the abortion issue without going through the usual route and the usual debate to the death. When I was Midwest Governor Cris proposed something very similar before the Althing (it passed, and Cris has to be given all the credit for the idea), and I found it fascinating enough to try to see how this would work on the federal level. I considered using the German system of "baby-hatches" for a time, but since I wasn't fully convinced of the idea I decided to go with this version and put some emphasis on protecting the right of the adopted child to learn about his origin.

I firmly support the first two provisions of this bill; however, I think that, in the case of the third provision, there should be an option for the mother to have the data destroyed, or, at the very least, made unobtainable, as a kind of opt-out system. Just a thought there.

That's an interesting idea, but I do feel one of the most important parts of this bill is precisely allowing the child to obtain the data at some point (I personally wouldn't want to deny him that right). But I am genuinely curious, why do you think the mother should have that option?

Well, basically, on the one hand, such a situation (the child obtaining the data and proceeding to track down the mother) could be a tad, how shall I put this... awkward. Indeed, one of my very good friends, who was adopted, recently did that, and it proved a bit of a fiasco, the whole meeting up thing. Not only that, but it can also be awkward for the adopting family too (as it was in the above case). Personally, I think that there'll be plenty of mothers who want to move on from whatever had led them to that particular pass in the first place, and the possibility of the child turning up 18 years later, when you might have settled down and started a brand new life, has the potential to be disruptive and possibly painful. I'd have it as an opt out system, but I think the option should be there regardless.

That I can understand, and I am tempted to name the amendment friendly (I will take a few hours before formally naming it one way or the other), but I guess I am still a bit concerned about denying the child the right to know about his origins regardless of how painful it could be. My doubt here is, why should be judge in favor of the mother instead of the child? Wouldn't it be frustrating for him/her not to have a chance to know?

It's a difficult situation; however, if one thinks of the many adopted children who have never discovered their true origins, yet have turned out alright as people. Whilst I agree that some might find it frustrating, on the other hand, I think that there is a greater chance of actual hurt being caused by refusing to allow for the option. In the end, either way someone isn't going to be best pleased by this bill; this amendment I think offers the route of least displeasure.