Healthcare Challenges of an Adoptee

As an adoptee I have faced many obstacles throughout my 20 years of life. One of the biggest issues that I have come across is interactions within the healthcare system. I can truly say that I am an autonomous person especially when it comes to my healthcare preferences. And by understanding the idea of autonomy I have realized how easily it is to eliminate one’s self-determination and I have seen this in my healthcare experience.

I was brought to the International Mission of Hope an orphanage in Kolkata, India as a newborn. Weighing only 4 lbs. I was placed in intensive care for the first 2 weeks that I was orphaned. I was adopted at 8 months old and brought to live in Madison, Wisconsin which I have called home for almost 20 years now. Before I came home I was tested for any inherited conditions as well as tested when I arrived in the states. The tests showed that I was a carrier of Thalassemia minor, which is an inherited blood disorder. Having the ‘minor’ inheritance means that only one of my biological parents carried this trait. Having this trait does however affect the shape of my red blood cells due to the lack of oxygen they receive as well as becoming anemic, but I do not suffer from any mental or physical disadvantages. Knowing this, I have found it important when I want to have children some day with someone who is of Southeast Asian, Indian, Chinese or Filipino descent they are more likely to carry this gene which can cause great risk for the infant to suffer from Thalassemia major. This is the story I tell every new physician or health practitioner that I come across. This is the only information that I have on my health from India. And this information is pretty much useless to healthcare professionals, but it is all I can say.

I moved away from home in Madison, Wisconsin to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Since I go to college in a bigger city I research what specialists or physicians I should go to, since there is a diverse pool of healthcare professionals. When visiting with a new nurse, physician or specialist I find myself telling them my whole story. Even though they are happy to listen I can tell that they feel like they aren’t getting the whole story. It is sometimes an awkward circumstance, and at times I am not sure how to address it.

In respect to my autonomy, practitioners are able to listen to my opinions and I have made decisions that may go against what the doctor suggested. However, I have experienced times where I was questioned about my decision or opinion, and when this happens it normally starts a conversation about my ethical background. This is when the doctor starts making assumptions about what I could be dealing with based on my Indian ethnic background whereas I know the outcome of my health is influenced now mainly by my socioeconomic status, my lifestyle, and how I was raised. I have started seeing changes in my health that make me question what the outcome will be or if it will lead to anything.

Having family health history would make it easier to identify what the outcome of my symptoms may be in the future. Though I only have health history from the time I was at the orphanage until now I am not able to recall a time where I felt I was subjected to unnecessary testing or screening. I have been tested for tuberculosis after my trip to India but I felt that was necessary since I do interact with children at work. When I feel that I am in a serious state and need to see the doctor urgently I tend to go back to Madison to get treated rather than go to a clinic or hospital in Milwaukee just because I do know I am treated ethically with my family physician as well as other practitioners within the Madison area.

I mentioned previously that I do carry the gene...