Adoption Ethics

Bryan Martin

Erin Kramer

ENG 112-004

July 21, 2014

Synthesis: Adoption Ethics

Of all the hot button topics that surround us today, the ethics and practices of the foster care and adoption system has been pushed back to the end of the line in our social consciousness. Unfortunately not many people are aware of the ongoing struggles facing our endangered youth and those that are involved in their care here on American soil. It seems that the sensationalism of noteworthy news is the only indication that we have not become a society that has grown accustom to this problem. In the following pages I will present some facts and laws pertaining to the adoption of children. I will be examining the open adoption as compared to a closed adoption and the rights of birth fathers in the adoption process. These basics will illuminate some of the issues surrounding this age old dilemma.

To start we will discuss the laws of the adoption process. These are the basic parameters without the legalese of legislature and code. All adoptions are subject to state law and not federal law. Each state has its own systems in place concerning the welfare of the child. Federal law only enters the picture when the placement of a child is due to a federal offense by which the individual is subject only to the laws concerning said offense. Only indirectly is the adoption process affected by the sentencing and the ensuing outcome when the crime is of an egregious nature.

There are two types of adoption. These are direct placement and public or private placement. In the former, direct placement, the child is exchanged between the birth parent(s) and the prospective adoptive parent(s) and is made feasible by an intermediary or a lawyer. The necessary papers are drawn up by the lawyer and everything is filled out. It is paramount for a lawyer to be a part of this process in order to make sure that all happenings are legally sound and the rights of all individuals are properly...