Family medical history information can be important to understanding one's own medical needs. An adoptee’s access to medical information is often limited. Pennsylvania has created a way for adoptees to gather birth family medical information from birth parents through the Adoption Medical History Registry.

The registry, which is operated by the Department of Public Welfare, enables birth parents to share their family medical history with the individual they placed for adoption. The registry serves as a central repository for collecting and storing birth family medical information and adoptee requests. Registry services are available for all adoptions of Pennsylvania-born adoptees.

The registry serves two groups of people:

• Birth parents who gave birth in Pennsylvania and placed their child for adoption, and
• Pennsylvania-born adoptees regardless of where the adoption was finalized.

A birth parent may file family medical history that includes information about themselves as well as other birth relatives such as other children, parents and grandparents of the birth parent.

The following people may request medical history information from Pennsylvania Adoption Medical History Registry:

• Pennsylvania-born adoptees age 18 or older, or
• Adoptive parents or legal guardians of Pennsylvania born adoptees who are under 18 years old.

Medical history information released to the adoptee is limited to non-identifying information only. Neither a birth parent’s name nor any other identifying information will be provided.

Participation is voluntary.

The registry encourages birth parents to update their information when changes occur.

A request received from an adult adoptee or an adoptive parent/legal guardian of a minor adoptee will be kept on file. If information is received at a later date, it will be sent to the requestor.

It is necessary for the person requesting medical history information to keep the registry informed of their current address.

There is no fee for this service.

Forms to participate may be obtained from the following address:

Forms also may be obtained locally from an adoption agency, from any Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania or from this website under Adoption Information.

Please specify whether you want a Birth Parent Registration Form or an Adoptee Request Form. Remember, to have the form notarized or attach a copy of a valid driver’s license.
Send the form to the registry at the above address.