7am News, Sports and Obits
Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
Birth Records Bill Leaves Committee
Many adoptees say this is at least a step in the right direction. The Illinois Senate Judicial Committee has approved a bill to make it easier for adopted adults to obtain their original birth certificate and family medical information.

While some adoptees want all birth and adoption information open, committee members say this measure is a good compromise. It would allow access to the birth certificate and medical data if the birth parents agree. Testifying before the committee hearing was Gay Ellen Brown, 51, who was born in Chicago and adopted by a New Jersey family. She recently needed surgery for pre-cancerous conditions, and lacked a family medical history, so her medical insurer refused to pay for tests because she couldn't cite any family members who had cancer.

Brown says the law discriminates against adoptees, and hopes Illinois lawmakers will eventually open all records. Opponents who want to keep those records sealed say the law made a promise to birth parents that the information would never be revealed. The measure now goes to the full Senate for final approval.

(Illinois Radio Network)
04 14 10 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.