Genetic isolation of adoptees

The purpose of this paper is to alert pediatric ophthalmologists to problems of rendering genetic counseling to adoptees at-risk for genetic disease. All states have statutes that provide for secrecy of adoption records. These records are maintained by adoption agencies, county courts, and state registrar. In most cases, the counseling clinician must file a lawsuit to reach the parents of an at-risk adoptee. An administrative procedure is proposed to allow access to certain adoption information for the purposes of genetic counseling and offer of treatment.