We've often heard the happy stories about adoptees finding their birth parents or siblings. But what about those who don't want to be found? Are open records for adoptions a good thing?

Guests:

Adam Pertman, Executive Director of Evan B. Donaldson Institute and author of Adoption Nation

Mary Robinson, Pres & CEO National Council for Adoption

State Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery), Chairman Task Force Adoption Law

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By Craig Cohen

I dread the really nasty “pro” and “con” shows.

You know, the programs where we discuss a controversial issue, and there’s one organization leading the charge in favor of doing something, and another organization leading the charge against it. And the same two people representing those organizations seem to go from radio show to TV show, town hall to public forum, debating the issue, spitting out the same talking points, and trying to rattle the other’s cages by referring to specious statistics or making wild statements.

Sometimes – when an issue is just so explosive, so divisive – no matter how much we try to find reasonable guests to offer cogent analysis from opposing sides – the conversation inevitably devolves. I’m pleased it’s been a rarity on Radio Smart Talk, but it has happened, and when it does, it leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth. As the host tasked with facilitating the discussion, I feel like somehow I let you down.

So, while I was looking forward to Wednesday’s (9/30/09) conversation about adoption and the clash between an adoptee’s desire to know her/his roots, and a birth parent’s desire for privacy, I was also fearful that it would become “one of those shows.”

Turns out, I had no reason to worry, because our guests on both sides of this debate couldn’t have been more thoughtful and respectful of each other. Yes, they did pull out their statistics and occasionally disagreed with one another’s assertions, but it was always in a calm, rational manner.

At the heart of the debate was what to do when that adoptee’s desire to know – to gain access to birth and medical records – clashes with a birth parent’s desire for privacy. Some states have dealt with this issue, establishing some form of so-called “open records laws” – but Pennsylvania has not.

(Comments are encouraged at the end of this column)

One guest, Adam Pertman, the Executive Director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, favored giving adoptees access to such information. Another guest, Mary Robinson, the President and CEO of the National Council for Adoption, supported birth parents’ privacy.

You could hear both of them, through their words – and their tone of voice – genuinely seeking common ground.

Our third guest, State Senator Stewart Greenleaf, heard it too:

“As I listen to both parties here talking about this…there’s an area of resolution here. We just have to draft the legislation to…address all those concerns…there’s a very good consensus that can be worked out here.”

Senator Greenleaf, who has tried to draft legislation in the past to address this issue, admitted that he “started out in this process saying [adoptees] had the right to have these records regardless…but I’ve changed that [view].” The Senator seemed to suggest he has a better sense now of what’s at stake for both adoptees and birth parents, and where exceptions to potential rules regarding open records may lie in order to arrive at a consensus.

In other words, the Senator – and our other guests, for that matter – recognized and communicated a desire for compromise. Further, they all seemed to suggest that continued dialogue - like our program - was helping them to shape a beneficial, mutually-agreeable solution.

At the end of Wednesday’s show, Senator Greenleaf told our guests he “would like to have both your expertise to draft this legislation.”

Of course, the rubber will hit the road when Senator Greenleaf introduces that legislation, which he indicated he would try to do before the end of the year. Will the final language yield adequate buy-in from all involved, agreement strong enough that the bill has a genuine chance to be passed?

To keep the discussion going, we will re-broadcast our conversation about adoption and so-called open records policies this Saturday at 1 on WITF 89.5. You can also, of course, hear the program right here at WITF.org, and continue the conversation with your comments below.

Thanks for continuing to contribute to open, honest, and respectful dialogue. After a thoughtful discussion like this one, I don’t feel quite so much dread about preparing for the next “pro/con” show!

- Craig