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INFERTILITY   ADOPTION   POST-ADOPTION   FAMILY TREE   Adoption Resource Central    Heart of Adoption Articles to inspire   You can order Family Helper publications		B.C. mum sues agency over adopted girl's illness BY ROBIN HILBORN, Family Helper editor
		(July 20, 2000) A single mother is suing her adoption agency for allegedly failing to tell her that her adopted daughter had a serious medical problem. Vancouver psychologist Colleen Haney teaches at the University of British Columbia. She adopted Casey from China in October 1998. She did not discover that Casey had inflammation of the bone marrow in her right leg until after her daughter arrived home. The inflammation, steomyelitis, has required extensive surgery in Canada and could result in a permanent disability. The July 20, 2000 Globe and Mail said that Ms. Haney is suing Sunrise Adoption Centre, its director, Douglas Chalke, and adoption consultant Bonnie Wong. Mr. Chalke said he is confident the agency acted appropriately. He also said the only history about a child that is available to the adoptive parents is the date and time of the child's birth. Helen Mark of the Adoptive Families Association of B.C. said adoptive parents normally are not given any promises about the health of a child. "No one should ever guarantee the health of a child. Even when a mother gives birth, the doctors don't make that promise," she said. "A child could develop disabilities, medical issues could come up. There are no guarantees." Article: www.globeandmail.com/gam/National/20000720/UVANCN.html ________________________________________ You may reproduce this item with the credit: "Source: Family Helper (www.familyhelper.net)"