Third-party reproduction and adoption in cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether cancer patients receive timely information on adoption and third-party reproduction and whether discrimination exists in the system.

METHODS

A convenience sample of 11 cancer organizations, 6 international adoption agencies, and 7 adoption specialists was informally surveyed by phone, by e-mail, and in person.

RESULTS

Cancer organizations did not know whether cancer is a barrier to adoption; what a survivor needs to do to adopt; or whether or not a cancer survivor should disclose their cancer history to the adoption agency, home study worker, etc. They could not identify resources for a survivor experiencing discrimination or adoption agencies that are cancer friendly. They did not know whether a survivor should adopt domestically or internationally to increase the likelihood of success. Adoption agencies identified their chief concern as the welfare of the child and were reluctant to discuss how a cancer survivor would be viewed as a potential adoptive parent.

CONCLUSIONS

Cancer patients lack immediate access to information about adoption and may face discrimination in domestic and international adoption.