NYS Legislation enacted in1983 established that,
“…the medical histories of a child legally freed for adoption … and of his or her natural parents … shall be provided by an authorized agency to such child’s prospective adoptive parent … and upon request to the adoptive parent … when such child has been adopted…. Such medical histories shall include all available information … including any psychological information … which may be a factor influencing the child’s present or future health.”
Social Services Law s 373-a, also applies to children in foster care. Medical and psychological information about the child and the child’s birth parents must be provided to prospective foster parents and upon request to the foster parent if the child is already in foster care.
Additionally, when a child leaves foster care, the medical histories must be provided to the child directly and upon request to any adopted former foster child.