Tag Archives: adoption medicine

What An Adoption Doctor Did for Us, Part Two

My last blog talked about how an adoption medicine specialist helped us to decipher referral information and consulted with specialists. Once the referral was accepted, the doctor provided instructions on how to page her from abroad and a list of “what to bring” for each country. In Korea, medical care is good and most children are in foster care. Also, we visited our daughter during our stay but did not take custody until the last day. Therefore we brought only over-the-counter medicines and did not need to page the doctor. People more likely to page the doctor are those who … Continue reading →

What An Adoption Doctor Did for Us

My last blog talked about “adoption medicine” and why in the world someone would want an “adoption doctor”. By way of example, this blog will write of what an “adoption doctor” did for us. Our adoption agency, like most international adoption agencies, suggests that parents have whatever medical and/or developmental information is available on a child reviewed by a pediatrician of their choice and by any appropriate specialists. Our agency gave us the name of a doctor in the area who had adopted two children herself and pioneered the concept of “adoption medicine”. We saw a child on a “waiting … Continue reading →

What Is An Adoption Doctor and Why Would I Need One?

What in the world, you may ask, is an “adoption doctor”? Adoption is not a disease, after all! (In fact, I still remember how disturbed I was the first time I went to the library for information on adoption. Instead of being in the parenting section, “Adoption” books were shelved between “Addiction” and “AIDS”. ) Nevertheless, a new subspecialty has developed in adoption medicine. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a new committee for it. Why? Especially with the advent of international adoption, many doctors were unfamiliar with the terminology used by doctors overseas and were unable to advise parents … Continue reading →