People Asking Questions About Adoption in L&D

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Just today I was on another BBS which has a forum dealing with Infertility and Adoption Issues>. One of the participants, who is doing a private adoption, advocated the method of going to an L&D floor and just asking the nurses if they currently had any patients who are planning or willing to give their baby up for adoption. He said that he did that with his wife and said that in the hospital he did that, the nurses gave him many leads. He went on to say that he tried it at several other hospitals in small towns in Kansas.

When I found this out, my jaw just about hit the floor, and I furiously typed to all those who aren't in nursing or the medical field that this is NOT the way to get information on adopting a new baby. I told this forum that for a nurse to give away information like that was a direct violation of HIPAA, and that if it was discovered, that the baby could be removed from the home.

The other poster said that I was in the wrong and that the nurses advocated doing the same at other hospitals. I did receive mail from a friend of mine on this other BBS saying that this person is probably "communicating via his anal sphincter" (if you need a translation, ask me :)) and that this probably did not happen. She does not believe that the nurses told him to do that, and I can not fathom that an L&D nurse would violate HIPAA like that. I said that those working in L&D like their jobs, that competition to work OB is rather intense, they wouldn't violate HIPAA and lose a coveted spot in L&D.

This person turned on me and told me that this happens "all the time." That nurses give out information about babies who will be adopted out, and that this inside information will help them in getting that newborn baby. After I picked up my jaw a second time, I reminded him about HIPAA, and for some reason, HIPAA was not discussed and that prospective parents should just go on the floor if the nurses are not busy and just ask. If they are busy, then they should hit the cafeteria, smoke areas, etc., that someone is always ready to talk.

I was pretty livid at this point that he was spreading this inside info like gospel. I told the forum that occasionally we do get "cold calls" to the floor from prospective patients inquiring if we knew of any babies who could be adopted. I told the forum that all we could LEGALLY do was to say we can't give out information like that, possibly pass the phone call on to the nurse manager (if she's available) and she'd give name of various agencies around town.

Forgive me that this is getting rather long, but I guess I need to get this off my chest and ask, how often do you all get "cold calls" concerning leads on possible adoptions? How do you handle them? I'm pretty sure that I'm right that it would be a HIPAA violation if a nurse gave out info on potential adoptions which might be taken place. I told him our policy on adoptions, that pts are placed in the hospital system under "No Report" or "No Shows" so not even their name is visible on ANYTHING. Baby is usually not allowed to leave the nursery until a foster parent picks them up and a social worker is on the case IMMEDIATELY, if not sooner.

One of his responses was "a teenager would love it if someone would come in a 'take over' so they could get on with their lives. A nurse would be doing them a great favor by saying that so and so is adopting." This is not exact works but that's the exact sentiment.

Thanks so much for reading! I appreciate it and I just needed to get this off my chest to people who understand that it's NOT OK to just go up to an OB floor and see who's adopting out their kids that day... thanks for listening. If I'm wrong, maybe someone could enlighten me if this is not an outright violation of HIPAA policy.

Kat

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The only thing I've gotten is an email with photos and the history of a couple looking to adopt that they asked to share with people looking to put their child up for adoption.

I think you have to be right. How can you violate a person's privacy like that? Unless they have given you permission to troll for people to adopt their child and even then, is that your role as an RN?

I can see how this made you a bit upset.

steph

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

Any hospital I have ever worked at you show up and start asking about babies will get you a trip off the premises escorted by security. IT will also get your picture(usually not a real flattering one) circulated around to all ther local hospitals warning them about you.

You and I are in the same town by the way.

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Oh GOODNESS, now I HAVE "almost" heard it ALL!! I can NOT believe anyone could POSSIBLY give out that info and think it is "okay" Glad you could vent...shame shame on anyone who would give out such info, wow, think of all the ramifications..a new mom, with postpartum...oh gosh, the list goes on in my head...

wrong, way wrong...

JoBug

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

HOLEE MOLEE!!!!!!!

NO W A Y !!!!!

In the unit I worked in I saw MANY adoption eligible babies. Even people who worked in the unit were not allowed to spread the word outside the unit or to ANYone! The baby has a right to privacy just like any other patient. HIPPA ensures that. If someone came to me looking for a kid to adopt at the hospital, I wouldnt hesitate to have security escort them out. There are appropriate channels for such things - asking nurses at the hospital isn't one of them.

Before anybody gets fired up, I've been on both sides of the adoption coin - I have the utmost respect for all parties involved and understand the emotion that goes with it. There really are good and reputable agencies and avenues out there. Shopping in the newborn nursery isn't it.

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Ridiculous. I have never heard of anything more unbelievable in my life.

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I agree with the other posters- anyone coming to our hospital to inquire about babies will have a security code called on them. I've worked at my place for 8 years and nothing like what they person is suggesting has ever happened there. I can guarantee he won't be warmly received.

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Some people are just clueless. If anyone came to us asking questions like that, not only would we call security, we'd also call the police.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.
Any hospital I have ever worked at you show up and start asking about babies will get you a trip off the premises escorted by security. IT will also get your picture(usually not a real flattering one) circulated around to all ther local hospitals warning them about you.

EXACTLY the same at my facility!!

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

I have to say that I have been asked numerous times by fellow employees of my facility..."if anyone is giving their baby up for adoption, call me". I just basically stare at them and ask them if they really think we can do such a thing. Its like we can just say, ok...come on down and pick up this baby before you get off work. It happens more than it should. I guess people get into a state where they want a baby so badly they just think L&D can provide. I feel for them, but, can't help shake my head thinking, sheesh, what do they think we are here...a baby store?

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I was thinking along the lines of you all, and I forgot to mention this in my post on the other BBS. ISCA BBS for all interested. If someone presented at our hospital wanting hot tips on adoptees, they would IMMEDIATELY get a free escort out of the building by security, before they got themselves a "souvenir" picture taken by security to be distributed in the departments.

This is NOT the way to troll for newborns.

I know that this conversation seems too good to be true, if I could copy and paste it I would but it seems that I have trouble doing so. Although, it is possible that it would violate TOS on allnurses.com.

I've worked on the adoption side too, not as a prospective parent, but I did some volunteer work at a crisis pregnancy center. I know it's an emotional spot to be in. I've heard of moms who were planning on adopting their babies out receiving calls at home, people begging to adopt their baby. This was many years ago that I heard of this, someone was breaching confidentiality big time.

Thank you all for your replies. Like I said, my jaw dropped when I read the original post on ISCA BBS.

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Specializes in OB.

Just something that occured to me while reading this - Would the people on your other BB also feel it appropriate to contact ERs to troll for potential "organ donors" if that were their need?. Seems the equivalent to me. In both cases there are appropriate agencies and procedures to assure proper conduct and avoid more trauma to persons already in a crisis situation as our delivering moms considering adoptions are.

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