Adoption ethics

[DebblesRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

Question: If a baby is born into your OB unit and the parents wish to put the baby up for adoption, is it unethical for a nurse in the OB department to adopt that baby??

What if the parents are asking to speak to a prospective adoptive parent and a nurse you are working with happens to be looking to adopt a baby?? Is it ethical for that nurse to go speak to the parents in question??

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

No, this is unethical. The mother should be referred to an adoption agency. This is a violation of the nurse-patient relationship because often healthcare providers are seen as being in a position of power, and this could lead the mother to feel pressured to give up her baby. Counseling new mothers who are hormonal, afraid, and often alone is NOT for the nurse to do. This should be left to a professional who has been specially trained in adoption issues.

There have also been adoptions overturned because the mother felt pressured by healthcare providers, and nurses have been fired for interferring. Do not touch this with a ten foot pole.

[DebblesRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

Not involved on this end. There has been a debate at work about this. Just looking to see what other's views are about the topic. Thank you for your answer. :)

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I know people who have adopted babies we've (or they) have taken care of, but both instances were after first-mom was legally no longer in the picture.

[RNLaborNurse4U]

If a nurse was interesting in adopting the baby, she would have to have NO contact or care of the mother-baby couplet in the hospital. The potential adoptive mother would need to go through the usual channels of adoption - her attorney would need to contact the birth mother's agency, and go from there.