The more I talk to both birth and adoptive parents about ethical issues in adoption, the more I realize how unaware so many people are of what the issues even include. Below I include my personal list of some ethical issues currently under consideration and links to a wide variety of articles about ethics in adoption:

1. Pre-birth matching and the possibility of coercion and/or pressure,along with the undue risks that this practice creates for adoptive parents as well; 2. Adoption advertising, when, where and what form it should take; 3. Regulation... more

Before I proceed any further into this discussion of ethics in adoption, I think it might be useful to point out that there is an vast difference between illegal adoption practices and unethical ones. I believe that it is important to distinguish between the two. While I imagine that there are some few illegal practices going on in the U.S., I would venture to say that unethical practices are far more common.

Illegal practices are those which break laws and could subject one to criminal fines or jail time. Unethical practices are legal, but moral and ethical... more

Should an agency or social worker care what it does to a woman who is pressured, and then later regrets her decision? Agencies are profitable businesses, right? What about the child? Should a child grow up with its original family if possible?

Adoption is a viable option for a child who cannot grow up with birth family. However, being relinquished does present lifelong issues for many adoptees. Is it morally right to put a child with another family if it is not absolutely necessary?

In the past couple of days, three different people have asked... more

A reader comment recently reminded me of a subject that I wanted to address. I displayed the caution banner for sensitive readers as I plan to discuss some tough topics.

I don't understand? I hear so much about ethical adoptions, but, what is an ethical adoption? To me, a bmom walks into an adoption agency and makes a plan to place; its not the agency's responsibility to help find parenting resources...

Let me address her comments first. I think anyone involved in adoption should learn about the ethical issues involved... more