Woman wins rethink over refusal to allow access to adoption file

The high court has ordered an adoption agency to reconsider its
decision not to let an adopted woman see confidential documents
about her natural and adoptive parents.

Mr Justice Scott Baker ruled that Nugent Care Society reviews
its decision not to allow Linda Gunn-Russo see her adoption file.
The decision follows her high court bid in May to force the society
to reveal information about the 1948 adoption it organised.

In 1999 the society had refused to reveal the information to
Gunn-Russo, despite the fact that she had been in touch with her
natural family since 1951.

Scott Baker said: “Whatever the appropriateness of their policy,
the NCS applied it too rigidly to Miss Gunn-Russo’s
application and without giving proper consideration to the specific
circumstances of her case.”

A NCS spokesperson said: “The society will consider each of the
documents of which she [Gunn-Russo] does not have a copy, which bar
one are relating to her adoptive parents, and decide whether they
are continuing reasons for them not to be disclosed.”

He added the society would also review its policy on the
disclosure of adoption records.

A British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering spokesperson said:
“This case will give people hope who are struggling to get access
to their records.”

She added: “Agencies deal with the dilemma of making promises of
secrecy to the birth parents with balancing the needs of the
child.”

Click here for legal report on case.